Denis Lake's new book on the Australian design icon, the Peddle chair, The Men Who Made the Celebrated Chairs, was launched at Narryna on Friday 9 September 2016.

George Peddle (1855-1933) was born in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the centre for English Windsor chair manufacture. He migrated to Hobart in 1884 and began to manufacture his own Tasmanian blackwood ‘Windsor’ chair. In 1889 he moved to Launceston, later moving along the railway line to Nabola, where he was joined by his brother-in-law, Harry Hearn, who continued ‘Peddle’ chair manufacture in association with George Peddle’s saw milling business.

Historian and furniture-maker, Denis Lake has assembled an impressive typology of ‘Peddle’ chairs and his beautifully illustrated book tells a rich social history. The book is a must for all who value Tasmania’s unique craft traditions. 

The book launch was accompanied by:

• an exhibition of Peddle chairs at Narryna

• a seminar for collectors on the Peddle chair on Saturday 10 September, 10am – 4.30pm

• a “Peddle Chair Muster” on Sunday 11 September, 12 noon – 4.30pm. Participants brought their Peddle chair for authentication