George Mulhauser
Reflecting on George Mulhauser’s decades-long career conjures up images of him sitting in his well-known Mr. Chair — a luxurious reclining mid-century modern lounge chair for Plycraft made from a single sheet of plywood — and thinking to himself what mark he would leave on the world of furniture design.
Mulhauser studied industrial design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated in 1953. His early designs were quite venturesome and landed him his first design job in the Manhattan studio of architect, journalist and designer George Nelson, who was the director of design for legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.
In 1955, Mulhauser designed his now-immediately recognizable Coconut chair. Angular and visually striking, this alluring lounge chair, with its sloping molded plastic shell, was something of a prelude. Soon, Mulhauser would make the acquaintance of American furniture designer Paul McCobb. Mulhauser collaborated with McCobb on concepts for molded fiberglass chairs, and McCobb’s Origami chair for Directional would become a big hit on the mid-20th century market.
Mulhauser kept busy. In his home studio, he sketched out each furniture design on paper and then translated them to handmade scale models. Mulhauser engaged his neighbors and family in trying out his sophisticated seating and gathered feedback for improvements. He designed his Mr. Chair for Plycraft — an adjustable armchair with a seat of tufted leather that yielded a series — and collaborated with many other companies throughout his career, including Directional, Singer, Overman and the Design Institute of America. He also taught furniture design at Pratt Institute, while the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts brought him on as an instructor of 3-D design.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage George Mulhauser chairs, lounge chairs and other furniture.
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Leather, Wood, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Faux Leather, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Faux Leather, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Mulhauser
Leather, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Mulhauser
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Mulhauser
Metal
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- Who is George Mulhauser?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023George Mulhauser was a furniture designer. He is best known for designing a chair called Mr. Chair, a luxurious reclining mid-century modern lounge chair for Plycraft made from a single sheet of plywood. Other famous designs by Mulhauser include the Coconut chair and the Origami chair. Shop a range of George Mulhauser furniture on 1stDibs.