Birch Ltd William
Biography
The High Wycombe based firm was established in 1840 as chair makers and by 1875 employed more than 50 workers. Later in the century they pioneered the use of machinery and developed cabinet making as an accompaniment to chairs. By 1881 their products were reflecting current trends; the Cabinet Maker, June 1881, featured some of their Anglo-Japanese rush seat furniture. The Cabinet Maker, June 1886, reported that the firm had one of the smartest, largest and best managed factories in the country and produced work of the highest class.
The firm's London premises were used as warehouses, housing a wide range of 'artistically upholstered chairs, together with many original and excellently-designed frames, enriched with effective and well-cut marquetry panels' [The Furniture Gazette, 15 January 1890]. With reference to the firm's factories, Furniture & Decoration, January 1894, stated: 'on the framing floor are to be found two of Moore's Universal carving machines which are kept busy carving backs for the oak chairs which have long been a speciality of the firm. In addition, twenty carvers are also employed in finishing and carving the more delicate work'.
William Birch produced furniture for Liberty in London as well as 'Quaint' furniture for themselves. The furniture supplied to Liberty's was presumably commissioned by Leonard Wyburd, as head of the Liberty Furniture Studio, and included the Ethelbert and Athelstan chairs of 1901. The Ethelbert chair, no. 871, was published by Birch in 1901 and cost £2 polished; the same design had been advertised in Liberty's Yuletide Catalogue of 1899 at £3 7s 6d. From the Liberty archive at Westminster and a collection of notes and sketches by Barbara Morris, several chairs made by William Birch are identifiable. An oak inlaid sideboard, designed by Wyburd, made by J. Kelly, W. Birch and E. Badger, was exhibited by Liberty & Co. at the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, London 1903 (exhibit no. 476) with a price of £60. The firm also exhibited at the St Louis Exhibition, 1904 and was awarded a gold prize and gold medal.
In 1901 William Birch confirmed the role of the designer, E. J. Punnett in this: 'We made a number of his models in wax finish, natural English Walnut for Liberty's'. The Punnett designs for Birch which were sold to Liberty date from 1901 to 1904 included two small tables (illus. Bennett (2012), p. 317). Another Punnett design, an oak armchair, with ebony inlay and rush seat and back was made by Birch in 1901. Albert Barnes (fl.1907-37) started his working life as a carver and inlayer at W Birch Ltd.
An example of a Thebes stool made by either William Birch or B. North & Sons is now at V&A. Various chairs, cabinets, a writing table and a whatnot made by Birch are illus. Agius (1978), pp. 124-5.
The firm developed a considerable export trade both to Europe and the USA and had a London showroom at 370 Euston Road in the early 20th century.
In 1954 W. Birch & Co. was acquired by E. Gomme Ltd, another High Wycombe based furniture maker.
