Coombs Family Armchair
Datec. 1855
Credit LineGift of Mr. Leslie Gray, 1959
Object number1959.012.002
Label TextThis chair came down through the Henry Coombs family. The donor purchased it from Edward Coombs’ (1885-1960) estate in 1961. Family lore explained that Henry Coombs’ shop (1819-1882) made the chair around 1855, the same year London became a city. It was part of a set used in the City Hall that stood at on Richmond Street south of Dundas Street. That site is now home to the former Royal Bank building. English-born Henry Coombs (1819-1882) immigrated to London in 1843 and soon opened a cabinet-making business. He operated it at King and Richmond streets, on the northwest corner of the Market Square, until he closed up shop in 1875. The notice announcing the closure highlighted the medals Coombs’ furniture had won locally and in Paris, France. It also noted that customers could be confident of the quality of his goods. While other manufacturers had adopted machinery, Coombs still trusted the skill of trained craftsmen.
NameArmchair
