But like a storyline from a great 19th century romance novel, fortunes changed and the pair were separated, seemingly never to be seen together again.
Nearly a century later, fate has intervened and William Larnach’s chair and matching side table have been reunited at the Dunedin castle this week.
Early New Zealand furniture making and design historian and author Dr William Cottrell, of Christchurch, said the furniture was made out of local rimu for Larnach Castle in the early 1870s.
While the desk remained at the castle, it was believed the chair was sold in the early 1930s along with a lot of Larnach’s other furniture, and ended up at the Dunstan Hotel in Cromwell.
About 40 years ago, it was auctioned off along with other hotel furniture and ended up in Whangamatā on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Dr Cottrell said he discovered the historic chair for sale on Trade Me last year.
Initially, he did not know it was from Larnach Castle, but he knew just by looking at it that it was something special.
"They’re like horses — to you and me, they’re just things with four legs.
"But if you’re a racehorse breeder, you can look at it and say, ‘That’s a winner’ or ‘that’s dog tucker’.
"Everything about the chair just spoke quality. It was an absolute statement chair.
When he got a closer look at it, he discovered it had a Larnach Castle four-digit serial number stamped on it, so straight away he knew it belonged to the castle.
"The chair matches the table, perfectly. It was clearly obvious that the two were partnered."
Before being returned to Larnach Castle this week, the chair was put on display at the Objectspace Chair Exhibition, in Auckland, and then more recently in Christchurch.
Now it can be seen in its original setting — in a ground floor foyer of the castle.
Larnach Castle director Norcombe Barker was delighted to see the chair returned.
He never knew it existed, let alone expect it to be returned.
"It’s getting harder and harder to find the original pieces of Larnach’s furniture as time goes on.
"It’s always great to have an original piece returned to us.
"It’s quite a thrill."
