Skip to main content

Warren McArthur Stools

American, 1885-1961

Few 20th-century designers had influential furniture that regularly flew at 30,000 feet, but Warren McArthur did. His work on seating for military aircraft came near the end of his career, following decades of Machine Age furniture shaped from tubular forms and made of steel, chrome and aluminum.

Warren McArthur Jr. graduated with an engineering degree from Cornell University in 1908. After moving to Los Angeles in 1929, he founded the Warren McArthur Corporation a year later. His initial output of sleek, metal designs were popular in offices and hotels. 

At the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Americans witnessed a new “Streamlined America” campaign, which included everyday furniture made from metal, opening the door for McArthur and other Machine Age designers to a residential audience. With this increase in demand for metal furniture, the Warren McArthur Corporation relocated to Rome, New York, and sold their aluminum furnishings out of a showroom on Park Avenue in New York City. 

Actors Marlene Dietrich, Fredric March and Clark Gable were among his A-list clientele. McArthur also produced furniture for the dining cars on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Chrysler Headquarters. His designs were featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1934 exhibition “Contemporary American Industrial Art.”

During World War II, McArthur pivoted production after a ban on the private use of aluminum. McArthur made an estimated three-quarters of all American military aircraft seating, including adjustable seats for the Beechcraft C-45 and revolving seats for navigators aboard the Grumman HU-16 Albatross. 

Warren McArthur closed his business in 1948. He died in 1961.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Warren McArthur armchairs, tables and other seating.

2
to
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
31
297
271
148
132
Creator: Warren McArthur
Warren McArthur Modified Revolving Stool Aircraft Seat 1947/2024
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
Located in Camden, ME
A rotating stool made from a Warren McArthur designed aircraft navigational stool created in 1947 for Grumman Aircraft Corporation. The Grumman Albatross SA-16 was developed as an a...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Steel

Warren McArthur Vanity Stool Style No. 1131, circa 1936
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
Located in Camden, ME
Warren McArthur aluminum vanity stool from the mid- 1930s. The stool is worn and has a separation crack on the inside edge of one of the floor tube. Early McArthur is made from weld...
Category

1930s American Bauhaus Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Related Items
Mid century modern vanity stool by G plan, circa 1960s
By G Plan Furniture
Located in Houston, TX
Mid century modern vanity stool by G plan, circa 1960s. Elegant example of mid-century chic. Matching vanity in photos is available in ...
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Teak

Warren McCarthur Lounge Chair
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur Lounge Chairs by Warren McArthur Corporation aluminum frame , upholstery Great Plains woven wool, rubber feet Dimensions: 31"high 26" wide 30" deep
Category

1930s Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McCarthur Lounge Chair
Warren McCarthur Lounge Chair
H 31 in W 26 in D 34.75 in
Paul Frankl Style Vanity Stool Upholstered in Shearling
By Paul Frankl
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A most elegant and thoughtful way to celebrate your "me" time. Make yourself comfortable in silky soft shearling and enjoy the ritual of tending to you. A beautiful and sculptural vanity...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Hide, Leather, Wood, Lacquer, Fur

High Style Swivel Vanity Stool by Jay Spectre c 1970/1980's
By Century Furniture, Jay Spectre
Located in New York, NY
Voguish Art Deco Revival, Hollywood Regency style swivel boudoir chair, vanity stool designed by Jay Spectre circa 1970' 1980's. The stool features four solid oak legs in pale bleach...
Category

Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Fabric, Oak

1930’s French Rococo Louis XV Style Lacquered Green Vanity Stool
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Charleston, SC
1930’s French Rococo Louis XV Style Lacquered Green Vanity Stool A beautiful 1930’s vanity stool that has been lacquered in “Danish Lawn” by Farrow and Ba...
Category

1930s American Rococo Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer

Lin Vanity Stool
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Introducing the Lin Vanity Stool. Designed and meticulously hand-crafted in Los Angeles by Studio Qasabian. The Lin Vanity Stool is the perfect additio...
Category

2010s American Modern Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Brass

Lin Vanity Stool
Lin Vanity Stool
H 24 in W 46 in D 46 in
George Nelson Vanity Stool
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic model 4672 vanity stool designed by George Nelson. Plush rectangular seat gracefully perched on a brushed aluminum base. Minimal design and compact size makes it an attractiv...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Bouclé

George Nelson Vanity Stool
George Nelson Vanity Stool
H 20 in W 20 in D 14 in
Warren McArthur Lounge Chair in Original Leather
By Warren McArthur
Located in Dallas, TX
Warren McArthur for Namco lounge chair in original leather.
Category

1930s Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Leather

Warren McArthur Streamline Modern Aluminum Chair, Art Deco, 1930s, USA
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Warren McArthur chair, Warren McArthur Corporation, aluminum, leather, copper, rubber, USA, 1930s. Measures: 33½ H × 17 W × 21 D in Provenance: Collection of Stuart Parr Private Collection Warren McArthur Jr. was an innovator in Machine Age/ Art Deco furniture design. McArthur moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1929 to pursue metal furniture manufacturing; . he founded the Warren McArthur Corporation there in 1930. His furniture designs while unique were true to the Machine Age aesthetic. Machine Age design emphasized sleek forms inspired by automobiles, locomotives and airplanes. These objects were symbols of progress and modernity to the American consumer and industrial designers began constructing furniture in streamlined designs from steel, chrome and aluminum. Prior to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, known as the “Century of Progress Exhibition.” The fair’s tagline, “See America Streamlined,” and the abundance of metal furniture and home goods exhibited finally presented the concept of utilizing metal designs in the typical American household. The Museum of Modern Art followed suit in subsequent years with exhibitions like "Machine Art," (1934), and "Bauhaus 1919-1928" (1938), further exposing the American public to this design style. The Warren McArthur Corporation moved manufacturing to Rome, New York in 1933, just as metal furniture was gaining popularity; the company’s products were sold out of a showroom in New York City on Park Avenue. As a manufacturer, McArthur filed numerous patent designs which he utilized in advertisements to exhibit the innovations he developed. The company also proudly printed patent numbers on furniture...
Category

1930s American Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

French Louis XVI Style Upholstered Vanity Stool 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
French Louis XVI Style Upholstered Vanity Stool with Rosettes & Tapered Reeded Legs, 20thC Measures- 19''H x 17''W x 17''D
Category

20th Century Louis XVI Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools manufactured by Knoll Original velvet Upholstery
Category

1970s North American Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Stainless Steel

Warren McArthur Folding Chair
By Warren McArthur
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Original period turquoise upholstery Labels below. Only 1 available
Category

1950s American Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur Folding Chair
Warren McArthur Folding Chair
H 33 in W 22 in D 19 in
Previously Available Items
1969 Mid-Century Modern Red Leather Stool Signed Warren McArthur, Nickel-Plated
By Warren McArthur
Located in New York, NY
1969 nickel-plated Mid-Century Modern metal base stool with a round red leather seat made and signed by Warren McArthur. This can be seen at our 2420 ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Nickel

Rare Warren MacArthur Adjustable Stool
By Warren McArthur
Located in New York, NY
Aluminum stool marked Warren MacArthur. The stool adjusts in height from the low position ( 24" ) to high position ( 36" ). The surface has some spo...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Warren McArthur Railroad Revolving Stools
By Warren McArthur
Located in Camden, ME
A pair of revolving stools from an Illinois Central passenger train from the late 1930's. Remnants of Warren McArthur Corporation One Park Avenue decal...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur Aluminum Stool
By Warren McArthur
Located in New York, NY
WARREN MCARTHUR (1885-1961) Stool in brushed aluminum tubing with iconic aluminum turnings at joints and a black leather seat. American, c. 1930
Category

1930s American Vintage Warren McArthur Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Warren Mcarthur stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Warren McArthur stools are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Warren McArthur stools, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider stools by and Marcel Breuer. Prices for Warren McArthur stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,100 and can go as high as $3,100, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,100.

Recently Viewed

View All