Pair of Governor’s armchairs used at Government House

Title
Pair of Governor’s armchairs used at Government House
Year/Period
Mid-20th century or earlier
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
2018-00494
Credit Line
Donated by President’s Office

Known today as the Istana, Government House was built in 1869, serving from then on as the official residence of the colonial governors in Singapore, beginning with Sir Harry St. George Ord, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements as a Crown Colony who commissioned its building. This armchair was used by the first Governor of the Straits Settlements after the Japanese occupation, Sir Franklin Gimson, in the Victoria Room, today known as the State Room. It featured during the many ceremonies of investiture held there in the late 1940s where war veterans or civilians who had contributed to Allied interests were conferred honours by the Governor.