Peacock chairs are iconic, once you see one you will always recognize their archetypal shape. The first documented photo taken of a peacock chair was of a woman prisoner and her child at Bilibid Prison in Manila, Philippines. Prisoners there made wicker furniture and even had a store. The photo was taken in 1914. Historic articles state that the prison was meant as a rehabilitative center in order to teach prisoners skills and reorient them back into society. The money made from the sale of wicker furniture made by the prisoners went to cover the expenses of running the prison itself.
Tourists would flock to the prison to watch the women create beautiful pieces of furniture then head to the prison store and purchase the items to have them shipped back home. The prison was known as a tourist destination of the times, as the Philippines was an American colony at the time.
The beauty of peacock chairs is the open yet sturdy design and regal size. The large openwork backdrop of the chair frames the seater in a fashion that puts them in a spotlight of sorts. Yet as large as these chairs are, they are lightweight and easily mobile due to the wicker, cane, or rattan construction. They create a halo effect and appear to hug the subject when used as a photo prop while allowing light to filter through.
Peacock chairs have been used to enhance the image of everyone from movie stars including, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe to Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panthers. They have been used to draw attention to album cover photos for everyone from Al Green and Julio Iglesias to James Brown and Drake. They tend to be a staple of photo studios everywhere and can be found on many patios and inside homes all over the world. These iconic chairs are still popular today.
Do you have a vintage peacock chair? What are your thoughts about these iconic chairs, and their complicated history?
