Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

The San Francisco area woodworker Arthur Espenet Carpenter was one of the most celebrated figures in the postwar American Studio Furniture movement. Like George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, Wendell Castle and other craftsmen of the era, Carpenter built furniture both as a means of creative expression and for the simple personal fulfillment of making a thing well. The excellence of their work stood in high relief against the mass-produced goods made of synthetic materials that became prevalent in the mid-20th century. Born in New York City during the Jazz Age, Carpenter earned a degree in economics from Dartmouth College and initially intended to become an accountant, like his father. But after serving four years in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, Carpenter had a change of heart about entering the business world. Back in New York, he became an Asian-arts dealer but finally found a true sense of direction when visiting the “Good Design” shows held in that era at the Museum of Modern Art. Carpenter was particularly taken with the hand-turned wooden bowls by James Prestini and decided he wanted to make objects himself. To get far from New York, he drove to San Francisco at age 28, bought a lathe and, with the help of a G.I. Bill small-business stipend, opened a woodworking shop in the Mission District. Carpenter started out making bowls, sold through local high-end retailers such as Geary’s. His skills improved, and within a few years Carpenter had moved to the coastal town of Bolinas, California, where he built furniture on commission. His national reputation was sealed when in 1972 — somewhat to Carpenter’s own surprise — his designs were shown by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in the exhibition “Woodworks,” alongside those of Nakashima, Maloof, Castle and the Philadelphia-area craftsman Wharton Esherick. Carpenter defined a new design aesthetic now known as the “California roundover” — a style characterized by flowing lines and gently-contoured edges that make wood feel almost supple to the touch. The graceful and comfortable Wishbone chair, so named for the tapered supports that form its legs, is Carpenter’s signature design. The chairs, typically made of black walnut, are usually priced in the range of $20,000 a piece. Because of its simplicity and economy of materials, Carpenter’s furniture works well in any informal, unfussy decor — though it is particularly striking in a modern environment. As you will see on these pages, the work of Arthur Espenet Carpenter is both friendly and exquisite. The quality of its craftsmanship is impeccable, and it exudes the gentle warmth of the lovingly handmade object.

Creator: Arthur Espenet Carpenter

California Craft Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three Leg Counter Stool in Walnut

$16,000

California Craft Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three Leg Counter Stool in Walnut

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Chicago, IL

California Craft Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three Leg Counter Stool in Walnut Features original woven leather slung seat with sculpted wood L-shape frame. The stool has a 360 degree sw...

Category

1970s American Organic Modern Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Unique Stool - Walnut and Steel (circa 1965)

$8,500

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Unique Stool - Walnut and Steel (circa 1965)

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Chicago, IL

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Unique Stool - Walnut and Steel (circa 1965) This striking unique stool, designed by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, features a combination of welded wrought iron ...

Category

1960s American Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Wrought Iron

1960s Bar Stool by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, American Craftsman

$14,786

1960s Bar Stool by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, American Craftsman

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Berlin, DE

Bar stool in Rawhide by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, 1960s. Arthur Espenet Carpenter (1920-2006) was an American furniture designer and craftsman. He was born in San Francisco, Californ...

Category

1960s American American Craftsman Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Leather, Wood

Signed Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rawhide Stool

$15,000

Signed Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rawhide Stool

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in New York, NY

Signed, Arthur Espenet carpenter (American, 1920-2006) Rare, Rawhide stool, circa 1972. Rawhide stool was made through a process known as bent lamination,” in which the seat frame an...

Category

1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Leather, Wood

Vintage Dark Green Bar Stool, Germany, 1960s

$927

H 32.68 in Dm 13.39 in

Vintage Dark Green Bar Stool, Germany, 1960s

Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Stool from the turn of the 1960s. Produced in Germany. Beautiful, well crafted dark green Italian upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and steel black legs. ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Steel

Stool by Charlotte Perriand for les Arcs 1600, circa 1965

$1,571

H 17.33 in W 14.18 in D 14.18 in

Stool by Charlotte Perriand for les Arcs 1600, circa 1965

By Charlotte Perriand

Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR

Iconic design by Charlotte Perriand, this stool was conceived in the 1950s to furnish the ski resort of Les Arcs in the French Alps. This piece is an early edition, directly sourced...

Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Pine

Stool by Charlotte Perriand for les Arcs 1600, circa 1965

$3,200

H 17.33 in W 14.18 in D 14.18 in

Stool by Charlotte Perriand for les Arcs 1600, circa 1965

By Charlotte Perriand

Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR

Iconic design by Charlotte Perriand, this stool was conceived in the 1950s to furnish the ski resort of Les Arcs in the French Alps. This piece is an early edition, directly sourced...

Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Pine

Vintage Dark Orange Bar Stool, Germany, 1960s

$927

H 32.68 in Dm 13.39 in

Vintage Dark Orange Bar Stool, Germany, 1960s

Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Stool from the turn of the 1960s. Produced in Germany. Beautiful, well-crafted dark orange upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and steel black legs. Not reg...

Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Steel

Pair of Low Stools by Arthur Cunningham New Hampshire Craftsman

$2,200 / item

H 12 in W 21 in D 12 in

Pair of Low Stools by Arthur Cunningham New Hampshire Craftsman

Located in St.Petersburg, FL

A pair of unusual three legged stools by Arthur Cunningham, Manchester, New Hampshire. Vintage circa 1960s with great patina and character.

Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Reyes Counter Stool in Walnut with Black Leather

$2,950 / item

H 36 in W 18 in D 17 in

Reyes Counter Stool in Walnut with Black Leather

By Martell Woodworks

Located in Mendocino, CA

This is a walnut counter stool with a stretched leather seat and back. The frame is solid walnut with a gentle radius at the interior joints and ...

Category

2010s American Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Brass

Modern Counter Stools in Walnut, Cicely Collection

$1,550 / item

H 25 in Dm 15 in

Modern Counter Stools in Walnut, Cicely Collection

By Bertu Furniture

Located in Oak Harbor, OH

These walnut counter height cicely stools are beautifully constructed from solid walnut in Ohio, USA. This stool was style-spotted ...

Category

2010s American Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Walnut

Arthur Umanoff, Stool, Metal, Grasscloth, United States, 1950s

$3,500

H 14 in W 18 in D 13.75 in

Arthur Umanoff, Stool, Metal, Grasscloth, United States, 1950s

Located in High Point, NC

A metal and grasscloth stool designed by Arthur Umnaoff and produced in the United States, 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 14.0"H x 18.0"W x 13.75"D Seat Height (inches):...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Metal

American Designer, Bar Stools, Bamboo, Velvet, USA, 1960s

$4,400

H 30 in W 16.875 in D 16.875 in

American Designer, Bar Stools, Bamboo, Velvet, USA, 1960s

Located in High Point, NC

A pair of moulded bamboo and green velvet bar stools or counter top stools, designed and produced in the US, c. 1960s. Dimensions: 30” H x 16.875” Diameter All upholstered furnitur...

Category

1960s American Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Velvet, Bamboo

Italian Walnut Stool, circa 1940

$3,800

H 18 in W 24.5 in D 14.75 in

Italian Walnut Stool, circa 1940

Located in New York, NY

An Italian walnut stool with an elliptical shaped carved structure supporting the seat; newly upholstered in an Italian cream cotton fabric. Northern Italy, circa 1940 Size: 18" hi...

Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Clarkester Counter Stool Walnut Black

$494 / item

H 40 in W 18 in D 18 in

Clarkester Counter Stool Walnut Black

Located in Cincinnati, US

A perfect mix of Scandinavian inspiration and industrial flare that cohesively come together to make a statement piece which embodies simplicity, functionality and elegance. The ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Steel

Beachcomber Counter Stool in Walnut

$1,100 / item

H 24 in Dm 15 in

Beachcomber Counter Stool in Walnut

By Greg Mitchell

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Light and strong, the Beachcomber Counter Stool evokes the sight of an old wooden single hull; it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy of the high seas. Constructed of hand shaped legs and stretchers, each piece is carefully fit and pinned with hardwood pegs and wedges to last for generations, much like the sea craft that inspire them. For every bar stool, we start with scrupulously chosen lumber; each board must consist of straight grain and have absolutely no defects. This is not just for aesthetics, the clear grain gives the stool its strength. The boards are then milled to dimension and shaped by hand using a combination of machines and time honored hand tools. They are then given a polish by taking thin shavings with well sharpened planes and spokeshaves; rarely is sandpaper used in our shop. Once assembled, the Beachcomber bar stool...

Category

2010s American Shaker Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Previously Available Items

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Studio Craft Swivel Stool

Sold

H 44.5 in W 20 in D 17.5 in

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Studio Craft Swivel Stool

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Walnut studio craft swivel stool by California designer, Arthur Espenet Carpenter, circa 1970s. The stool features a woven leather slung seat with sculpted wood L-shape frame. The st...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Stools

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Arthur Espenet Carpenter stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Arthur Espenet Carpenter stools are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arthur Espenet Carpenter stools, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Arthur Espenet Carpenter stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $14,244 and can go as high as $14,244, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $14,244.

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