Liberty

Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843-1917) established his company as an Oriental warehouse and soon built it into a household word for artistic decoration and furnishing. Much of the early furniture stock was imported or locally made ‘Anglo-Oriental’ bamboo furniture. From 1883 the Furnishing and Decoration studio was run by Leonard Wyburd. After the failure of the Art Furnishers’ Alliance, of which he was a shareholder, Liberty took out patents for the two versions of the ‘Thebes’ stool, which was to become one of the most popular products of the furniture studio. Furniture was supplied by wholesale companies such as William Birch and J.S. Henry, who made designs by George Walton, and the firm also stocked chairs by the German designer Richard Riemerschmid (1868-1957). The dress department was under the direction of E.W. Godwin. From 1898 Liberty’s started to import German pewter from J.P.Kayser und Sohn among others and in the following year, they began their own metalworking undertaking using such designers as Archibald Knox, Oliver Baker and John Pearson, who had worked with C.R. Ashbee, 1888-92. These along with C.F.A. Voysey, Walter Crane, Lewis Foreman Day and the Silver Studio put the firm into the mainstream of Art Nouveau.

Textiles were supplied by Thomas Wardle, who had executed Morris’ early prints and by G.P. Baker and Morton & Co. Liberty’s stocked Donegal carpets by Voysey; enamels by C.J. Heaton; art pottery by Brannam, Doulton, Moorcroft, Compton and other European potteries. These included Max Lauger, (1864–1952) who made designs, especially for Liberty; as well as amateur work by the Home Arts and Industries Association; and Clutha glass by Dresser and Walton. Many other ‘Art Manufacturers’ were represented and their products are illustrated in the gift and furniture catalogues from the 1890's. The company is still as prominent as ever operating from their central London base.