Fenton House Harp-sit-chord
London | 2020
‘Please sit’ at Fenton House
Harp-sit-chord bench
Our ‘Harp-sit-chord’ bench was created for Fenton House in connection with the exhibition ‘Please Sit.’ The exhibition aimed to provide a unique experience of a London house museum, which is home to a long succession of occupants and brimming with disparate collections of extraordinary things arranged by the National Trust. The house, built around 1686, was left to the National Trust in 1952.
Commission design for Fenton House
‘Please Sit’ is a warm invitation to visitors to sit down, linger longer, and look anew at Fenton House, its remarkable contents, and the worlds they came from. Six designers, including us, were invited to create seating interventions in one of the rooms at Fenton House. These interventions encourage a deeper level of engagement, not only with Fenton's collection but also more broadly with heritage and place. The exhibition was curated by Gitta Gschwendtner.
Upon entering the dining room at Fenton House, the special Shudi and Broadwood harpsichord immediately caught my attention, says Nina. Its arresting shape and incredible craftsmanship made it truly stand out. I imagined the 8-year-old Mozart playing the harpsichord in his light blue frock over a waistcoat and collared white shirt during his stay in London in 1764. The design of our sculptural bench is inspired by the iconic form of this harpsichord.
CLIENT: Fenton House
DESIGN: Studiomama
PHOTOGRAPHY: Oscar Proctor