McGuire Pair of Wood and Leather Director's Chairs, USA, 1950s
View Similar Items
McGuire Pair of Wood and Leather Director's Chairs, USA, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:John and Elinor McGuire (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 82 in (208.28 cm)Width: 62 in (157.48 cm)Depth: 49 in (124.46 cm)Seat Height: 44 in (111.76 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Dusseldorf, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU186336456333
John and Elinor McGuire
Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. For the founders of McGuire Furniture Company, well, furniture wasn’t actually in the plans.
The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs — among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design.
In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside the mid-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch.
The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair by Leonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.
Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designers Steven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis, and, as of 2019, its luxury furnishings share a 16,500-square-foot showroom with Baker’s in San Francisco. Some of the earliest McGuire Furniture Company designs are part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
Find a wide range of vintage John and Elinor McGuire furniture on 1stDibs.
- Italian Director's Chair, 1950sLocated in Palermo, PAItalian director's chair, 1950s. Dimensions: H=84 cm; W=49 cm; D=57 cm.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Paolo Mahogany and Canvas Folding Director's ChairBy Brett PaulinLocated in Toronto, OntarioThe Paolo Director's Chair is crafted from solid mahogany wood, paired with vintage style heavy loomed canvas. The chair is in the spirit of the c...Category
2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsCanvas, Mahogany
$1,400 / item - 1960s Director's Chair by McGuire Wood and Black LeatherLocated in ITDirector's chair by McGuire from 1960s with black leather seat and brass details. Great conditions, conservative restoration.Category
Vintage 1960s Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Vintage Needlepoint Director’s Chair Folding Black Brown White GeometricLocated in Topeka, KSAwesome black wood folding director’s chair with a handmade black, brown, and white geometric pattern needlepoint sling seat and back. It is in wonderful vintage condition. The wood has a new coat of black paint. The needlepoint is all intact and has been carefully cleaned. Please see photos, circa 1960s-1970s. Now this is a director’s chair!! I fell totally in love...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Campaign Side Chairs
MaterialsTextile, Wood
$1,596 Sale Price20% Off - Cognac Leather Director's ChairBy Dario AlfonsiLocated in Milan, ITDark hues of vegetable-tanned leather and a beechwood frame finished with an ash wood varnish. Hand-sewn and assembled in Rome by Dario Alfonsi, this iconic collapsible chair...Category
2010s Italian Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
$1,465 / item - Beige Leather Director's ChairBy Dario AlfonsiLocated in Milan, ITNatural hues of vegetable-tanned leather and a beechwood frame finished with an ash wood varnish. Hand-sewn and assembled in Rome by Dario Alfonsi, this iconic collapsible chair...Category
2010s Italian Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
$1,900 / item