Chair #181

LOUNGE CHAIR

—Designed by Raymond Loewy & Jacques Adnet

I see this lounge chair poolside in Miami in the 1970s. It's made from tubular aluminum with ultrasuede upholstery. Light blue ULTRASUEDE! Miami Vice, white pants, loafers sans socks. Popped collar on the Lacoste polo. Dig?

Chair #180

ENGLISH CROOK ARMCHAIR

—Designer unknown

This is a very fine example of a walnut and burr wood George II style armchair, circa 1850. In the manor of Gillows, the scalloped back has an inset of silver coat of arms, and also sports those curvy cabriole legs we love. This would work wonderfully as a library or desk chair.

Chair #179

CLUB CHAIR

—Designed by Jonathan Singleton

I am usually a traditionalist, but damn it, I love this chair. Brushed steel with leather cushion seat... Solid. Curvy. S-E-X-Y.

Chair #178

BOUDOIR CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This chair is darling! Low and roomy, it looks fab for reclining, and maybe curling up with the latest Veranda magazine.

Chair #177

SQUIGGLE CHAIR

—Designer unknown

More fun with rattan. Not sure how comfortable it is for a grown up, but it's certainly interesting to look at as a sculptural piece of art. It could even be functional if you're creative, maybe as a towel holder in the bathroom? A perch for the dog bowl?

Chair #176

HALL CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This is a late nineteenth-century hall chair, made with continental silver leaf and velvet upholstery is Regal, but not too much so. I think it could easily be incorporated into the Common Man's home. I imagine a collection of figure drawings hanging on the wall behind it, all in various silver frames, and a collection of mercury glass on a mother of pearl desk.

Chair #175

RADIATOR CHAIR

—Designer unknown

USA, 1920s. Made with reclaimed iron from industrial radiators. Surely it needs a fluffy cushion to actually sit on, but isn't this brilliant?

Chair #174

BLACK LACQUER ARMCHAIR

—Designed by Adesso

From the Adesso Workshop Collection, this contemporary chair is upholstered in turquoise distressed leather. The color is very Georgia O'Keefe to me. A splash of turquoise out in the New Mexico desert.

Chair #173

CROWN CHAIR

—Designed by Dorothy Draper

Ahh... only the Queen of decorating herself would create something called a crown chair. Actually, here's how the name really happened. The chairs were designed for the Crown Room in the Fairmont Hotel in San Fransisco. They are highly polished cast aluminum, which is a striking contrast to the yellow upholstered seat and arms. Snappy.

Chair #172

ONE ARM LOUNGE CHAIR

—Designer unknown

If only we had chairs like this in 7th grade English lit classes to read our Jane Austen in. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly would be even dreamier. Sigh.

Chair #171

FLORENCE DINING CHAIR

—Designed by John Boone

Its hip. Its mod. And with a nod to the late forties, John Boone created the Florence dining chair. This clean lines of the chair has a solid maple frame with tapered square legs. The cutaway back detail adds a bit of sizzle, like some sort peek-a-boo dress that Ann Margaret would wear. Prrrrrrrrrrrr.

Chair #170

FRENCH SLIPPER CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This 1940s French Slipper Chair is a delicious pink, of course. I mean, it couldn't possibly be green or brown now could it? Perfect for the boudoir, oui?

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"Excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable."

— Lady Lou (Mae West), in the film She Done Him Wrong (1935

Chair #169

SIDE CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This is such a darling little chair. It is painted black with gold leaf trim, and the chair seat is covered in a saucy faux animal print. (Insert Eartha Kitt's kitty puuurrrrrrr here.) I'd love this chair for a little make up table or home office chair, or that cute little chair you'd have in a hallway by the telephone. You know, once upon a time, and not too long ago either, telephones had cords attached to them, and you couldn't be mobile the way you can with cell phones. You'd want a nice little table to put that telephone on, with a chair, a pen, and pad of paper nearby. Also a phone book would be tucked away in the table's drawer. Remember those?... phone books?

Chair #168

CARTON CHAIR

—Designed by Super Limão

The Brazilian design studio of Super Limão has a nifty website, but since it's in Portugese, I can't decipher any information for you. I think these cardboard chairs are quite striking though, with their simplistic forms. "Havia uma caderia azul no meio do caminho. No meio do caminho, ainda bern, para descansar minhas canelas." I found that quotation on the Super Limão website, but it translates into a nonsensical sentence on Translator.com. Anyone speak Portugese? See Chair #205 on July 24 of this blog for another cool Super Limão Studio carton chair.

Chair #167

CHAIR 777

—Designed by Stefan Hölldobler

Chair 777 is a new concept by new and young design group, “Die Fabrik” which is German for “The Factory.” The Chair 777 is made of 100% recyclable cardboard. The chair can be rotated into three different positions, depending on the mood of the user – a lounge chair, stool and regular upright chair. At only 20KG, the Chair 777 is easily movable by using only one hand. A space saver, the Chair 777 can be placed and moved into any room in the home that you desire. The chair is available in two distinct designs for the same price. Once the chair has been used and has lived it’s life, the owner can simply take it to be recycled. —From Yanko Design

chair #166

SCRIPT ARM CHAIR

—Designed by Barbara Barry for McGuire

The Barbara Barry Script Arm Chair features a striking back detail that recalls the elegance and fluidity of Spencerian script. Playful and graceful, this calligraphic theme is a signature Barbara Barry design. Each piece is handcrafted by skilled McGuire artisans to create the design's dramatic, elegant curves in rattan. 

Chair #165

BASKET CHAIR

—Designed by Isamu Noguchi and Isamu Kenmochi

Legendary American-Japanese sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi and Japanese designer Isamu Kenmochi paired up to designed this bamboo weaved chair. The original prototype was lost soon after conception and has only recently been recreated with the help of photographs. The chair’s frame is made of a looping, bent iron rod instead of wood, which gives the chair the look of two open-weave baskets, a pin cushion for the seat and a curving horizontal tube for the back, suspended on Hardoy’s butterfly chair frame. It was a perfect balance between Western modernism and Japanese craftsmanship. The Noguchi Museum offered the chair in a limited edition of just 50 numbers back during an exhibit in 2007. Although the price tag hovered around ten thou, I imagine they sold out.

chair #164

MANDARIN CHAIR

—Designed by Philippe Hurel

Philippe Hurel's eponymous website says about him:

"pouvoir donner forme à ses rêves en dehors des sentiers battus du prêt-a-meubler, voilà le vrai luxe."

I think this (very roughly) translates to how his shapes are dreams that are outside the box and that's a real luxury. If anyone out there is more fluent in French than I, please chime in.

chair #163

MEGAN CHAIR

—Designed by René Holten

René Holten designed heaps of chairs for Artifort, inclusing the Nina chair and the Hana chair. The Megan chair is an elegant arm-chair, perfectly suited for either the conference room or the dining room. The seating-shell is closed, the base is open. Megan is available three ways: with a sledge base as you see here, as a 4 leg chair, and as a conference chair with castors. 

Chair #162

GLUTONY CHAIR (one of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' chair series)

—Designed by Thomas Von Staffeldt

Ooooh, isn't this fun, in a Goth sort of way? The series itself is so clever. See chair #104 on Tuesday, April 14th of this blog to se another Seven Deadly Sins chair and read the history behind the series.

Chair #161

CONTEMPO RED CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This modern chair is a sure eye grabber. Reminiscent of '50s architecture, with bold wooden arms that curve up then jut down to form the front legs. Brilliant. It's simply gorgeous upholstered in red, and would look fab in a city loft with a oversized, modern painting behind it.

Chair #160

OX CHAIR

—Designed by Hans J. Wegner

Hans Wegner’s fascination with Picasso inspired him to do this sculptural chair. The production of the chair stopped in 1962 on the grounds that it was too advanced for that period. Can you believe? Thankfully production recommenced in 1985, applying new technologies but keeping the original integrity and elegance. The Ox chair has won many prestigious awards and is exhibited worldwide.

Chair #159

LOGE CHAIR

—Designed by Gerard van den Berg

This is a man's chair. What guy wouldn't love a leather chair like this, for his man cave? It has a high back to rest your head on while watching Inside the NFL...or John Stewart... or Keith Olbermann. And it also comes with a killer foot rest. With its streamlined shape that gives the chair an air of masculine sportsmanship, it just screams Ralph Lauren Polo Black. Comparable to a classic racing car. Vrrroooooom.

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"Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy night!"

—Betty Davis in The Man Who Came to Dinner 

Chair #158

BEEKMAN DINING CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This is a solid wood woven-back dining chair with leatherette seat. Hand crafted chairs feature Malaysian oak frame with wenge finish. Lost me on the word leatherette, which is just a mod word for vinyl.

Chair #157

ART DECO LOUNGE CHAIR

—Designer unknown

Swathed in a shiny black lacquer with curvy circular arms, this chair is very pretty. Looks like a low rider chair too, which is always comfy. 

Chair #156

TUFTED HIGH BACK CHAIR

—Designer unknown

You're a wiz at biz. You're the youngest CEO in the hub. You like this chair because its solid. It's okay that it's a little harder to maneuver than a swivel chair because it reminds you of your father who always told you that nothing in life should be too easy. You buy your clothes at Louis of Boston and have a growing collection of cufflinks. You lunch at Stephanie's On Newbury, but you lust for Locke-Ober since they stopped serving lunch. You row on the Charles, even in winter. You spend nights at the Wang listening to the sweet sounds of the BSO. Not to be confused with the Pops. Ever. You sit at this chair to make decisions that will impact the financial lives of many. Don't screw it up, kid.

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"It is not how much you make that counts 

but how much money you keep."

  

               —Robert Kiyosaki   (investor, businessman, author)

Chair #155

DISEX LOUNGE CHAIR

—Designed by Gio Ponti

This is such an iconic lounge chair, even if it is vinyl. Gio Ponti was one of the most important Italian architects, industrial designers, furniture designers, artists, and publishers of the twentieth century. He created this chair somewhere around 1953.

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Can you hear Billy Murray as Nick the Lounge Singer, singing his cheezy, drawn-out, schmaltzy, lounge lizard songs on Saturday Night Live? The funny thing is, the character Nick would have a different last name depending upon the season... Nick Winters, Nick Spring, Nick Summer. Cheeky bastard.

Chair #154

125 MPH CHAIR

—Designed by Forrest Meyers

Why is this named the 125 MPH chair? Anyone? Is it because it's so damn sleek? Or does it rock REALLY fast? Inquiring minds want to know. Forrest Myers, a California native, is clearly a fan of clean lines and simplicity. He studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, then moved to New York in 1961 where he quickly felt at home in the New York art scene. Myers’ sculptural metal works are the epitome of excellent workmanship. The chair is made of polished stainless steel and a candy apple enamel, and quite contemporary as well —the chair was created in 2007. It'd be cool even if it was named the 90 MPH chair.

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Having said that, I can't help thinking of a really giant cookie cutter when I see this chair.

Chair #153

19TH CENTURY FRENCH BALLOON BACK CHAIR

—Designer unknown

Picture the Moulin Rouge district of Paris at the turn of the century (that'd be the 1900's people). Great artists like Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec are some of the well known painters of the Post-Impressionist zeitgeist of that time. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec suffered from several physical challenges, and therefore immersed himself in his art instead of typical physical activities. Lucky for us and the art world! Throughout his short career of roughly 20 years, he created 737 canvases, 275 watercolors, 363 prints and posters, 5,084 drawings, miscellaneous stained glass and ceramic works, plus who knows how many other pieces of duds or lost works. That's an insane amount of work.

Back to the Moulin Rouge... Henri was commissioned by them to produce a series of promotional posters for the cabaret when it first opened its doors. The Moulin Rouge proudly displayed his posters and paintings, and always reserved a seat for him there. Wouldn't a chair like this be perfect in a Parisian salon? Fishnet stocking and feathers abound. Sit for a spell, and enjoy a glass of Absynthe before the Can-Can show.

Chair #152

SIDE CHAIR

—Designed by Thomas Pheasant

Nice Greek Key detailing on the chair back. A classic beauty.

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In art and architecture, a meander is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif. Such a design is also called the Greek Fret or Greek Key design, although these are modern words. The name "meander" recalls the twisting and turning path of the Maeander River. Other names are maíandros and meandros, except they are not very common outside of historically minded persons and, of course, the country of Greece. Among some Italians, these patterns are known as Greek Lines. Meanders were among the most important symbols in ancient Greece; they, perhaps, symbolized infinity and unity; many ancient Greek temples incorporated the sign of the meander.   —From Wikipedia