Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Pair of John Vesey "Maximilian Lounge Chairs"

About the Item

The “Maximilian Lounge Chair” was John Vesey’s finest and most celebrated chair design — it was also his most expensive one to produce, and appeared in a 1959 issue of Vogue. The aluminum frame was wrought rather than cast, solid rather than assembled, and polished to a seamless satiny sheen. An industrial-aluminum screen supports the black-leather upholstery tufted in a pattern that harks back to the 19th century. So too does the chair’s form that’s based on low-slung Latin American planters’ chairs. One that belonged to the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian of Mexico inspired both Vesey’s design and the chair’s name. Although humbly born, Vesey attended Harvard, wore Saville Row suits, and became a high-society fixture. Among his clients were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Babe Paley, Cecil Beaton, Hubert de Givenchy, and “Baby” Jane Holzer. He began as an antiques dealer, and then had the brilliant idea of replicating his antique inventory in aluminum, steel, brass, glass, and black leather. The stunning results prompted him to sell his antique inventory in a 1955 auction and use the proceeds to produce a furniture line of his own designs.
  • Creator:
    John Vesey (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Width: 23.25 in (59.06 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Aluminum,Leather,Polished,Welded
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1959
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1061431803662
More From This SellerView All
  • Pair of American 1930s 'Cafe Society' Chairs
    By Samuel Marx
    Located in New York, NY
    These over-scaled chairs were said to have been designed by Chicago architect Sam Marx, but they were probably made by William Quigley, whose workshop ...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s American George III Chairs

    Materials

    Brass

  • Italian Renaissance Chair
    Located in New York, NY
    Over the course of five centuries of use, this Italian Renaissance walnut chair has acquired a rich patina. Its austere form is relie...
    Category

    Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Chairs

    Materials

    Walnut

  • Napoleon III Folding Chair
    Located in New York, NY
    More sculpture than furniture, this finely-carved 1860s folding chair has a gilded and gessoed wood frame, and the original cut-silk-velvet upholstery material that was woven to fit....
    Category

    Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Chairs

    Materials

    Velvet, Wood

  • Pair of Chiavari Chairs
    Located in New York, NY
    The delicate, lightweight chiavari chair was first made in the Italian town of Chiavari in the early years of the 19th century. Their elegance and grace would come to charm Mid-Century Modernists, and inspire Gio Ponti to create his Superleggera chair. Unlike most midcentury chiavari chairs...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Italian Victorian Side Chairs

    Materials

    Gold

  • John Torreano Contemporary Sculpture of a Jewel
    By John Torreano
    Located in New York, NY
    This faceted, geometric sculpture by the contemporary New York artist John Torreano dates to the mid-1980s.
    Category

    Late 20th Century American Modern Sculptures

    Materials

    Paint

  • Pair of 1930s René Prou Slipper Chairs
    By René Prou
    Located in New York, NY
    These earthbound chairs appear to be weightless. Such is the illusion that the designer René Prou was able to create in 1930s Paris with the aid of a highly-skilled upholsterer. Befo...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Slipper Chairs

    Materials

    Silk, Sycamore

You May Also Like
  • John Vesey Clean Lined Lounge Chair
    By John Vesey
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    Clean lined model "V-54" lounge chairs, by John Vesey, circa 1960s. While it appears to be chrome, it is actually high polished stainless steel. This chair is currently being reuphol...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Stainless Steel

  • Rare Pair of Napoleonic Campaign Chairs John Vesey
    By John Vesey
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    Designed by John Vesey, the pair of Napoleonic campaign adjustable chairs are of the model in his repertoire that rarely surfaced on the vintage market, circa 1958, these chairs were constructed with a frame of matte chromed steel that appears very elegant and airy, the leather upholstery and adjustable arm bands took the cues from traditional French Campaign chair...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Steel, Chrome

  • John Vesey Aluminum and Walnut Folding Directoire Bench, circa 1958
    By John Vesey
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    Such an incredible rare example of precision design of the 1950s, by John Vesey Inc, this aluminum Classic Folding Bench in the Directoire style is in high-demand and sought after by collectors, interior designers and fine art galleries for very good reasons. The quality and precision craftsmanship of this foldable bench is simply incredible. Use it as a bench, stool, chair, and then fold it up, stow it away or take with you. It's size allows you to use it in smaller rooms and stow away in smaller closets or place it aside alongside a wall in a room. And the look and style of this piece is unmatchable. Such luxurious high-end design, excellent candidate for the designer who has a discriminating client who wants the best of the best. This elegant aluminium folding bench by John Vesey would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Post-Modern room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. Consider using as a side chair, dining, cafe or breakfast table bench, bedside chair, fireside stool...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

    Materials

    Aluminum

  • John Vesey Pair of Napoleonic Campaign Blue Leather and Steel Chairs
    By John Vesey
    Located in Miami, FL
    Pair of Napoleonic Campaign chairs by John Vesey, model V6. Steel frames with tufted leather upholstery. The lines and proportions are exquisite. The slender but solid steel frames w...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Lounge Chairs

    Materials

    Steel

  • John Vesey Bench
    By John Vesey
    Located in Palm Springs, CA
    Nice vintage 1970’s John Vesey X Bench. Oak sides. Good vintage original condition. Quite a few scratches to the steel surfaces. This bench is from a wonderful Palm Springs estate filled with an incredible collection of modern masters of art including Warhol, Rauschenberg, Hockney, Stella and others. The estate heirs kept the art and sold us the great furnishings which we have listed on this site, please have a look. The bench is pictured in consecutive photos next to a Herman Miller Eiffel...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s American Benches

    Materials

    Steel

  • A Pair Of Unusual Benches By John Vesey ca' 1960's
    By John Vesey
    Located in St.Petersburg, FL
    A pair of rare benches in solid brass by John Vesey, ca' 1960's. Priced per pair (2 pairs or four stools available). Heavy brass, reupholstered in natural suede.
    Category

    Vintage 1960s American Modern Benches

    Materials

    Brass

Recently Viewed

View All