Bench

South Australia has a rich Germanic heritage, dating back to the late 1830s with the beginning of German immigration to the newly proclaimed state. The Gallery holds an extensive collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century decorative arts made in the Germanic tradition of craft and design.

Dating to the mid-nineteenth century, this refined neoclassical bench features a simple symmetrical design, uncomplicated style and scrolling arms, reflecting the enduring popularity of the Biedermeier style of design in South Australian Germanic furniture, which persisted throughout the nineteenth century. The seat and back of this bench are made in local Australian red gum, the back including three cut-out tulips, while the legs have been constructed in Baltic pine. The bench was originally painted blue, faintly visible on the underside of the seat. Indicating its more humble origins, the bench also has block feet, probably a design feature allowing it to be used on a dirt-floor dwelling.

Rebecca Evans, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design