Arras Garden Furniture

The Arras iron foundry of the same name as the town in northern France was created in the 19th century. It was the producer of wrought iron garden furniture which is now still very collectable today.

The way that the craftsmen made the furniture in lengths of iron in a tube that they then split meant that the pieces of metal were stronger than purely flat iron.

They then rounded the iron which made the garden chairs, benches and tables softer in appearance. Chair ends are rolled over and so are the arms, making them much more comfortable to sit on than a lot of other iron furniture. The rounded surfaces also mean that rainwater rolls off them much more easily and so doesn’t collect and make them rusty – of course, these original Arras pieces of furniture are now well over 100 years old so although they really stand the test of time, rusty elements are visible on chairs and benches that are in their original state.

The classic sign of a true Arras item of furniture is the feet that were cleverly created by the factory craftsmen. Cast iron lion paw feet are the most sought after whilst cast iron horses hooves are also a classic design feature. Originals had a small brass plaque with the factory’s name stamped on it. Look out for ‘Usine St Saveur Arras’ when you are hunting for an Arras chair or table. The Arras factory closed around 100 years ago.

These pieces of garden furniture were often painted in the typical white paint you will see and also mid-green. Some of the more elaborate chairs will have scrolled arms but there is always a light touch to their design.

Other typical Arras garden items that were made during the 19th century will include étagères, tiered plant racks and plant holders as well as bases for small garden tables with marble tops.

Many of the Arras items were made originally for public spaces such as parks and public gardens, as well as for private use. Plant stands were made to create display items for plants and flowers at markets.

Arras garden furniture has stood the test of time as a result of all of those furniture makers’ skills with wrought iron and they are now still very collectable.

Keep a look out for Arras garden chairs and benches on our website for your own garden, patio or conservatory. Arras tables look great in a conservatory or garden room and can be used for display or for serving lunches and suppers from.