Rare Rennie Mackintosh dining chairs to be auctioned

TWO pairs of dining chairs created by famous Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh are to be sold at auction.

Bidding for the horsehair fabricupholstered pieces, which were crafted by the influential designer and artist for a friend in

1910, will begin at £15,000 for each pair, said auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull.

The stained oak chairs were originally part of a set of six and were made for William Douglas, a decorator Mackintosh had employed for various projects including Hous’hill in Nitshill, in Glasgow’s southside.

The pieces were created by Mackintosh the year after he completed the second phase of the Glasgow School of Art.

Lyon and Turnbull director John Mackie said: “The sale represents a rare opportunity to purchase scarce original furniture designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

“Only six of these chairs were made and their design demonstrates Mackintosh’s skill in transforming traditional vernacular forms into something new.”

Last year, a bedside cabinet by Mackintosh was sold by the auction house for £250,000 after “an intense international bidding battle”.

The chairs will form part of the auctioneer’s Design Since 1860 sale, which is taking place online on April 21 and 22 at 10am both days.

The sale incorporates a variety of other household furnishings, textiles, art and jewellery by household names.