Captivating John Crichton Rattan Egg Chair by The Blind Institute
John Crichton’s furniture is rare and sought-after; it was generally produced in low quantities for a small audience of design-conscious New Zealanders. He preferred to work with locally sourced materials and craftspeople to produce designs to his specification and sometimes commissioned members of the Blind Institute in Auckland to weave the cane for his woven chairs.
Crichton’s woven cane chairs have become highly collectable as they perfectly capture the Pan-Pacific aesthetic which is considered his signature style. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, several New Zealand makers and importers sold cane furniture and maker labels were rarely used. This has led to many cane designs being incorrectly attributed to Crichton by sellers trying to gain a premium on the sale. There is also very little documentation of the designs, which makes authentication difficult.
The expressive cane Egg Chair is one of the authenticated Crichton designs. It is featured in a sophisticated indoor/outdoor architectural photograph from 1968 taken for architectural firm McLachlan & Stemson. The shot was styled by Nannette Cameron, with key pieces sourced directly from Crichton. The image also appeared on the front cover of Douglas Lloyd Jenkins’ 2004 book _At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design_.
Each piece is checked and carefully hand restored at our Kingsland studio workshop. Our focus is preserving the character and patina of the design while ensuring it displays beautifully in a contemporary interior.
Each piece is checked and carefully restored at our Kingsland studio workshop. Our focus is preserving the character and patina of the design while ensuring it displays beautifully in a contemporary interior.
- Joints checked and reglued
- Timber cleaned and stains removed
- Veneer repairs if needed
- Surfaces polished / refinished
The items showcased in our gallery are constantly changing – not all items are on display at once.
Please enquire if there is a specific piece you would like to view and we’ll make sure it’s in the gallery.
All pieces are available for collection in person from our Ponsonby gallery. We are also happy to provide a quote for delivery throughout New Zealand.
Please enquire for delivery options.
Captivating John Crichton Rattan Egg Chair by The Blind Institute
Note: We showcase a curated edit from the Mr. Bigglesworthy catalogue. Please contact us to view specific items.
John Crichton was born in Bombay in 1917 and moved to England as a child. Not long after graduating with a qualification in design from Birmingham College of Art, Crichton was enlisted as an official photographer for WWII. He was stationed in Burma from 1939 to 1945. While serving in Burma, Crichton chanced to find his para-delivered film reels were wrapped in pages from the publication 'Architectural Review' a very exciting discovery. After serving in Burma, Crichton spent a period of time working in interior design in Malaysia.
New Zealand benefited from Crichton's knowledge when he opted to emigrate to New Zealand in 1949. With his qualifications and international exposure he was part of the introduction of a new approach to interior style. Pan Pacific Modernism combined Pacific and Asian influences in interior decoration with a modernist philosophy and its structured aesthetic. Crichton was a prolific interior and industrial designer. Based in a small store on Kitchener Street in Auckland he designed interiors, bespoke furniture and objects for his own spaces and others.
Today, Crichton is most recognised for his mosaic tile bowls although all his work is highly sought after. "Decorative Art 1950s" published by Taschen showcases a total of fifteen of Crichton's designs, which hold their own alongside the best in the world.
