With magnificent buildings such as the Guggenheim Bilbao, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the new Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Frank Gehry changed the nature and spirit of contemporary architecture. The architect has also enjoyed a prolific career as a designer of artful and functional objects, ranging from furniture to jewelry, that even at smaller scale are as lively and captivating as his architectural designs.
Gehry was born in Toronto and moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1947. He received a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1954 and — after several years of casting about that included a stint in the U.S. Army and studies at Harvard — Gehry opened his architectural practice in L.A. in 1962.
Idiosyncratic renovations to his small, traditional house in Santa Monica — such as cladding portions of the exterior in chain-link fencing and corrugated metal — drew attention to Gehry in architectural circles. Corporate and institutional commissions added to his reputation, culminating in the global acclaim that greeted the opening of the Guggenheim Bilbao in 1997. But the combination of visual dynamism and structural integrity expressed by that building had been evident for decades in Gehry’s designs. In 1972 he introduced a much-admired line of furniture he called Easy Edges. The curves and flowing lines of the pieces, which include the Wiggle chair, seem antithetical to the material are made from: cardboard — a presumably flimsy material that, when stacked, laminated and folded, is actually extraordinarily sturdy.
Many of Gehry’s designs feature an abstracted fish motif. For the architect, it was a symbol of vitality, strength and flexibility. The fish appears in a group of 1982 plastic lamps created for Formica (and exhibited by the Jewish Museum in New York in 2010). Gehry used the motif in crystal goblets for Swid Powell (1990), his Pito kettle for Alessi (1992) and as earrings for a 2006 jewelry collection for Tiffany that also includes torqued rings, necklaces and bangles.
Gehry returned to furniture design in 1992 with a remarkably energetic line of furniture for Knoll with frames and seating made of bent, lightweight wooden strops. (The pieces' names, such as Power Play and Cross Check, derive from ice hockey.) In 2004, Heller released a group of twisted, faceted furnishings in molded polyethylene meant to evoke Gehry’s architecture. But — whether its tableware, jewelry or furniture — all Gehry’s designs do that--sharing an animated aesthetic built on a solid foundational core. To possess a piece of Gehry design is to own one of his buildings, in miniature.
Find vintage Frank Gehry chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Frank Gehry, "Contour" Rocker, Cardboard, Masonite, Easy Edges, Inc, 1970s
By Frank Gehry
Located in High Point, NC
An early production "Contour" Rocker / Rocking Chaise, designed by architect Frank Gehry. Produced by Easy Edges, Inc, United States / Canada, 1970s. Produced in corrugated cardboard...
Masonite, Paper
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 36.5 in D 66 in
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall Curved Wave Chaise Lounge Rocker Mid-Century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall curved wave chaise lounge rocker. This piece was reupholstered in the 80's and will most certainly need to be redone. Th...
Upholstery, Wood
Paire de chaise Easy Edges Wiggle par Frank Gehry pour Vitra
Located in Rouen, FR
Paire de chaise Easy Edges Wiggle conçu par Frank Gehry et édité par Vitra. Structure composée de couches de carton compressé avec chants en contreplaqué apparent, formant une assise...
Paper composite
Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" Wiggle Side Chair for Vitra
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
An iconic Wiggle Side Chair designed by Frank Gehry as part of his groundbreaking Easy Edges collection, produced by Vitra. Originally conceived in the early 1970s, the Easy Edges se...
Other
$4,909
H 33.08 in W 14.18 in D 23.63 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Cardboard Wiggle Side Chair by Frank O. Gehry, 1972
By Frank Gehry
Located in Vienna, AT
A mid century modern vintage cardboard wiggle chair, which is a great design side chair by Frank O. Gehry, 1972 for Jack Brogan, USA 1972-1973. Reissued by Vitra from 1992 as Wiggle side chair...
Paper
1890 Folded Cruise Ship Chaise-Longue by Marks, Oak & Leather
Located in Milan, IT
Folded cruise ship rocking chaise-longue made out of oak wood, Vienna staw, and Franzy leather. Manufactured by Marks, New York 1890 ca.
Iron
$33,500Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.5 in W 28.5 in D 73 in
Richard Meier for Knoll International Architectural Rocking Chaise, 1982, Signed
By Knoll, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking and exceptionally rare rocking chaise designed by Richard Meier for Knoll International (circa 1982), this sculptural lounge piece beautifully captures Meier’s architectur...
Leather, Wood
$1,695
H 39 in W 20.5 in D 40 in
1970’s Bauhaus Style Chrome Tube Bentwood & Cane Rocking Chair or Rocker
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Bauhaus style rocking chair or rocker comprised of a chrome tube frame and bentwood trim surrounding a cane seat & back. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that t...
Chrome
$4,375 / set
H 34 in W 28 in D 29 in
Mid-Century Modern Gray Leather Armchair and Ottoman with Brushed Steel Arms
Located in Middleburg, VA
A stylish Mid-Century Modern lounge chair and ottoman set that’s as comfortable as it is cool. With its modern gray leather and clean, angled lines, it strikes the perfect balance be...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$701
H 34.26 in W 20.08 in D 22.45 in
Postmodern Cardboard Sculptural Chair, Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair Style, 1980s
By Vitra, Frank Gehry
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Postmodern 1980s whimsical sculptural chair in brown cardboard and reminiscent of Frank Gehry's Wiggle Chair. The chair is surprisingly ergonomic and comfortable. It certainly adds playful flair and amusement to your space. Condition is good vintage condition with some minimal and acceptable signs of wear. Dimensions as follows: Depth: 22.5 in (57 cm), width: 20 in (51 cm), height: 34.25 in (87 cm), seat height: 17.3 in (44 cm). Having established his own firm in Los Angeles in 1961, Gehry saw a pile of corrugated cardboard outside his office and started to experiment. Inspired by a childhood spent exploring his grandfather’s hardware shop, Gehry set about creating the Easy Edges furniture series, highlighting the strength and versatility of cardboard. “I discovered that by alternating the direction of layers of corrugations, the finished board had enough strength to support a small car...
Paper
$11,900
H 25 in W 22.5 in D 41.5 in
1972 Frank Gehry 'Contour' Rocking Lounge Chair by Easy Edges Inc.
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1972 Frank Gehry 'Contour' Rocking Lounge Chair by Easy Edges Inc. This iconic 'Contour' rocking lounge chair, designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry for Easy Edges, Inc., i...
Masonite, Paper
Eames Lemon Yellow Zenith Rope-Edge, RAR Rocker by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Highland, IN
The first fiberglass Eames chairs were produced by Zenith Plastics. The early Zenith shells are distinctive for their high fiber content and larger, more substantial rubber shock mou...
Steel
$4,910
H 27.56 in W 24.41 in D 15.75 in
Charles Eames Zenit RAR Rocker Chair First Edition Rope Edge Color Lemon
By Charles Eames
Located in Hamburg, DE
Early production Charles Eames rocker with rope edged fibre glass shell, zinc Eiffel tower base and wood rockers wood birch, original label, first producti...
Fiberglass, Birch