Stellar Set of Four Cane Back Side Chairs by Edmond Spence
View Similar Items
Stellar Set of Four Cane Back Side Chairs by Edmond Spence
About the Item
- Creator:Edmond J. Spence (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.25 in (81.92 cm)Width: 23 in (58.42 cm)Depth: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950's
- Condition:Excellent restored condition and reupholstered seats.
- Seller Location:Danville, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: U1006118264724
Edmond J. Spence
Edmond J. Spence played an important role in promoting the tenets of Scandinavian modernism in the United States but his name remains conspicuously omitted from the history books. He was an American furniture designer who is known for having introduced the West to unfamiliar cultural tastes and translating their subtleties to appeal to mid-century-era consumers.
Spence honed his eye for good craftsmanship as a young man. His family owned a furniture manufacturing company based in Batavia, New York. While not much has been reported about his schooling, it was not long before he started designing his own nightstands, end tables, chairs and more — all of which exhibited the appealing traits associated with mid-century modern furniture. Spence experimented with form and ornament owing to inspiration he gathered from international influences.
During the 1950s, Spence drew on Asian and Swedish influences in developing ideas for his own style of modern furniture. He incorporated aspects of Mexican design to create the Continental-American collection. Manufactured in 1953 by Industria Mueblera, this collection of sculptural wooden furnishings with brass details epitomizes Spence’s ability to draw attention to the most integral parts of global design while adding his own modern spin. The designer’s Coronation Group — a series of dressers, cabinets and more in blonde woods that featured decorative birch veneers — was built by artisans in Sweden and imported for sale to postwar homeowners in the United States by Massachusetts furniture company Walpole.
Spence’s “Peineta” chair — a work of mahogany, plywood and woven palm that is demonstrative of Spanish Colonial influences and is part of the Continental-American line — has long been on display in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art while other works are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. And if Spence hadn’t captured the hearts of Americans by way of Industria Mueblera showrooms and alluring ads in Interiors magazine, some of his furniture was used as set decoration for the widely loved sitcom I Love Lucy.
Find vintage Edmond J. Spence seating, storage and case pieces, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Set of Four Polished Nickel & Brass Regency Style Dining ChairsLocated in Danville, CAHandsome quality set of four Nickel plated steel Dining Chairs with polished brass X splats and polished steel seat backs. The seats are freshly u...Category
Vintage 1970s French Regency Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of Four Walnut Dining Chairs Attributed to Edward Wormley for DunbarBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Danville, CAThis beautifully crafted set of four wingback Walnut Dining chairs was custom made for the Executive offices of Owens-Corning, attributed to Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Co.....Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Set of Four Trinidad Armchairs by Nanna Ditzel for Fredericia Furniture-DenmarkBy Nanna DitzelLocated in Danville, CAVery rare Trinidad teak dining chairs with arms by Nanna Ditzel for Fredericia Stolefabrik Denmark, circa 1995. The seat cushions in Aubergine Ultrasuede are in good condition and a...Category
1990s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Set of Six Italian Avant Garde Dining ChairsBy Pietro CostantiniLocated in Danville, CASet of Six Sculptural Italian Armchairs. The solid wood chairs have been restored from the ground up and refinished in Espresso Lacquer. The splats are connected by a contrasting p...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsHardwood, Leather
$9,000 / set - Four Leather Dialogo Dining Armchairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B ItaliaBy Tobia Scarpa, B&B ItaliaLocated in Danville, CASet of Dialogo leather dining chairs by Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia. The frames have been freshly refinished and the leather seats are in fantastic original condition. This unique a...Category
1990s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Oak
- Modernist Dining or Occasional Chairs by Ricardo LegorettaBy Ricardo LegorettaLocated in Danville, CADining arm chair by internationally renowned architect, Ricardo Legarreta. Used in countless projects and widely photographed and documented. These chairs have both the contours and curves characteristic of Legoretta’s designs, as well as the linear plains and columnar verticality Legarreta is known for. Constructed of solid, oak, and pleasing in weight and balance of comfort. Original cognac leather...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Stellar Set of 4 Cane Back Chairs by Edmond SpenceBy Edmond J. SpenceLocated in Atlanta, GAA superb set of a very difficult to find series of chairs by Edmond Spence, circa 1950's. Birch with cane backs. Excellent Restored Condition, with wonderful patina. The price noted ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Edmond Spence Swedish Modern Sculpted Maple and Cane Dining Chairs, Set of FourBy Edmond J. SpenceLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous set of four mid-century Scandinavian Modern dining chairs By Edmond J. Spence Sweden, 1950s Solid sculpted maple frames, with caned seat backs and upholstered sea...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Maple
- Vintage MCM Keller Furniture Oak Valkerie ii Dining Chairs by Edmond J SpenceBy Keller, Edmond J. SpenceLocated in Topeka, KSHandsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Keller furniture Valkerie II Line dining or side chairs by Edmond J. Spence, a pair. Comprised of oak frames, blue fabric upholstered seats, and chrome sabots on the front feet. This piece has been attributed based upon archived research including online sources, vintage documentation and catalogs, designer literature, and other materials. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. The seats have been newly upholstered in a plain blue/black duck fabric. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, mid-20th century. What a TERRIFIC TWOSOME!!! This is a gorgeous pair of vintage Valkerie II Line dining or side chairs designed by Edmond J. Spence for Keller Furniture. They are comprised of lovely oak frames with slightly angled backs featuring sculpted “boomerang” shaped backs with spindles, straight round tapered front legs with stretchers and chrome sabots on the feet. Their seats have been freshly upholstered in a plain blue/black duck fabric. (We are calling it blue / black as some see it as black and some see it as a deep navy blue.) Did you notice that the handsome chair back and flared back legs are all one piece? Just an awesome design… and super comfortable!! They are mid-century modern with a Danish or Scandinavian modern flair, and they are going to be magnificent seating in your dining or kitchen area, side chairs in your bedroom, or extra seating in your family room. Sometimes you just need a simple little pair of chairs. You know? Just good looking, sturdy, and serviceable chairs. This is just that pair! Edmond J. Spence was an American designer who made a name for himself interpreting Danish Modernism in his own way and blending it with the atomic and organic influences of the mid to late 1950's. Mr. Spence grew up in a family business that manufactured high quality traditional furniture, including ornate, custom carved pieces. He was trained as a designer, and created industrial products, household items including clocks and radios. He began to focus on furniture, and he sensed the trend toward modern design. During the 1950s, Spence drew on Asian and Swedish influences in developing ideas for his own style of modern furniture. He incorporated aspects of Mexican design to create the Continental-American collection tagged “Ageless Furniture-Edmond J. Spence Design.” Manufactured in 1953 by Industria Mueblera. His work has been described as “a little bit Deco, a little tiki, with a heavy atomic & Danish influence.” He won awards and in the early 50’s his work was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York. And a fun fact, his furniture was used on the set of the “I Love Lucy” show for many years. -Mid 2 Mod. Mr. Spence passed away in 1986. Keller Manufacturing Company was founded in 1885 but Keller Furniture history dates back to 1866 when the “Keller Store” in Corydon Indiana was established. From that time, the operation entered into various businesses, including wagon productions from 1901-1912, running an electrical light plant, manufacturing spokes for farm wagons...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
$1,196 Sale Price / set20% Off - Set Six Edmond Spence Swedish Dining ChairsBy Edmond J. SpenceLocated in Chicago, ILSet of six birch dining chairs by Edmond J. Spence, made in Sweden for Walpole Furniture. Rare set of two armchairs and four side chairs. Seats covered in neutral taupe cross hatch w...Category
Vintage 1950s Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBirch, Cane, Wool, Upholstery
$8,500 / set - Edmond Spence "Yucatan" ChairsBy Edmond J. SpenceLocated in Dallas, TXBeautiful set of 2 Mexican modernist 'Yucatan' dining chairs designed by Edmond J. Spence made of mahogany and woven seagrass, Mexico, the 1950s. The seagrass is in great condition and the chairs have been refinished. "Edmond J Spence made a career out of translating international modern styles for the U.S. market–he designed a successful blonde wood line made in Sweden and imported by Walpole Furniture of Massachusetts. Spence’s Mexican venture dubbed the “Continental-American Collection,” was launched by Industria Meublera in 1953. A contemporary ad boasts “superb raw materials [and] fine Mexican handcraftsmanship,” and shows an Aztec stone...Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSeagrass, Mahogany
$5,000 / set - Edmond Spence Mid Century Yucatan Chairs - Set of 6By Edmond J. SpenceLocated in Countryside, ILEdmond Spence Mid Century Yucatan Chairs - Set of 6 Each chair measures: 24.75 wide x 19 deep x 31.75 inches high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 17.5 inches All pieces of f...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsRattan, Wood
$13,695 / set