Bringing lively newness to weathered and worn found materials, artist and furniture designer Jim Rose mined scrap heaps and junkyards for the metal he used in his furniture, collages and decorative objects. He kept his eyes open for the ideal scraps of aged steel that could be bent and shaped into a base, frame or surface of his next piece, hand-picking off-colored bits to serve as inlays and accents.
Rose was long associated with the American Studio Craft movement, and many of his one-of-a-kind works can typically be characterized as a venturesome fusion of folk art and modernist design. Each piece, crafted by hand and with fastidious care in his Wisconsin studio, is representative of his work ethic and boundless imagination.
Born in Indiana, Rose studied briefly at Bard College in New York City and earned his BFA in sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1988. A couple of years earlier, he established his design studio, along with his wife Suzanne — an award-winning photographer — as his partner. During the 1990s, Rose and Suzanne traveled the American Northeast, where he became enamored with Shaker furniture.
When Rose returned home, he read every piece of literature he could about the history of the Shakers. The name derives from the popular moniker for an all-but-vanished American religious sect, whose members crafted honest, modest household furniture and objects as part of their belief in purposeful living and simplicity in all things. Rose incorporated Shaker methods into the production of his own designs. Rather than utilize the unpretentious hardwoods that the Shakers preferred, however, Rose worked with discarded materials, fashioning tables, case pieces and decorative objects from repurposed steel and other metals.
In the late 1990s, Rose began to include multi-colored metal into his works — adapting methods used by colonial quiltmakers. His furnishings began to take on a mosaic look, bringing a substantial amount of visual appeal and new charm to each of his distinctive creations. Rose also produced a body of work that drew on Ming dynasty designs.
With numerous showings at Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair in New York City and Chicago, Rose made a name for himself throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. He had solo and group exhibitions throughout his career, including in Palm Beach, Florida, and Mesa, Arizona — as well as at many other galleries in New York and Chicago. Rose’s work is held in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Racine Art Museum and other institutions.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Jim Rose storage cabinets, tables, and decorative objects.
Shaker Inspired Settee, Shaker Style in Painted Repurposed Steel by Jim Rose
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This Settee offers a revealing counterpoint within Jim Rose’s legacy, demonstrating his ability to work fluently within historical forms while subtly expanding his material and visua...
Steel
Modern Gio Ponti Style Window Bench or Settee
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Modern walnut sculpted bench or settee inspired by Gio Ponti the famous Italian Mid - Century designer . Blue velvet cushion newly upholstered . Available also a pair .
Wood
Modern Gio Ponti Style Window Benches or Settees
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Modern walnut sculpted and brass sabot benches or settees inspired by Gio Ponti the famous Italian Mid - Century designer . Floating cushion newly upholstered on top of solid brass ...
Wood
Laurel Settee, Modern Windsor Style Bench in Blackened Ash
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A clean modernization of a Classic Windsor bench, this settee features sculpted legs and slats instead of dowels and spindles. Constructed from sustainable blackened ash, the settee is artisan crafted with traditional joinery and finished with an all-natural, 100% plant-based, hard-wax oil. "The Laurel Settee...
Wood, Ash
Hollywood Regency Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Daybed style settee, upholstered in Joan Miró inspired fabric, having a long, button-tufted, drop-in center cushion, flanked by padded, outscrolled ...
Upholstery, Wood
Danish Classic 1930s "Banana-Style" Settee or Bench in Red Velvet
By Frits Henningsen, Kaare Klint
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic, rare and very elegant Danish 1930s bench or settee in the style of Kaare Klint and Frits Henningsen. The settee is unmarked as was most often the...
Wool, Mahogany
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Grey Painted Benches or Settees
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair Of Swedish Gustavian style grey painted benches Complimentary delivery to most areas of London UK.
Pine
Laurel Settee, Modern Walnut Windsor Style Bench
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A clean modernization of a Classic Windsor bench, this settee features sculpted legs and slats instead of dowels and spindles. Constructed from sustainable walnut, the settee is artisan crafted with traditional joinery and finished with an all-natural, 100% plant-based, hard-wax oil. "The Laurel Settee...
Wood, Walnut
$10,435 / item
H 34 in W 60 in D 16 in
MARTA Walnut Settee/Bench with Cream Leather/Cowhide Seat by Mandy Graham
By Mandy Graham
Located in Torrance, CA
MARTA Settee by Mandy Graham MARTA M02 - settee bench sofa American walnut / sandblasted white oak, hairy cowhide seat 60" W x 25" D x 34.5" A s...
Cowhide, Hide, Oak, Walnut
19th Century Rococo-Style Gilt Settee or Bench
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming mid-19th century carved Italian or Spanish gilt wood settee or bench. The bench features shell carved cabriole legs ending in snail-form feet. The scrolling seat frame is centered by a carved gilt wood medallion...
Gold Leaf
$4,800
H 35 in W 44.25 in D 26 in
Early Mid Century Transitional Modern Spindle Back Bench or Settee in Mahogany
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible piece of artistry. This spindle back bench dates back to the 1940's and is made out of mahogany. A great mix of modern and traditional lines.
Fabric, Mahogany
Modern Gio Ponti Style Window Benche or Settee
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Modern walnut sculpted and brass sabot bencheor settee inspired by Gio Ponti the famous Italian Mid - Century designer . Floating cushion newly upholstered on top of solid brass pi...
Wood
$10,435 / item
H 34.5 in W 60 in D 25 in
Marta Black Settee/Bench in Walnut/Oak with Leather/Cowhide Seat by Mandy Graham
By Mandy Graham
Located in Torrance, CA
Marta settee by Mandy Graham Marta M02 - Settee bench sofa American walnut / sandblasted white oak, hairy cowhide seat Measures: 60" W x 25" D x 34...
Cowhide, Hide, Oak, Walnut
Midcentury Italian Gio Ponti Style Lacquer Ebonized Settee
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic Mid-Century Modern Italian sculptured settee or bench with wings. The settee features a black lacquer ebonized finish on the stylish ...
Leather, Wood
1940s French Art Deco Settee
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Art Deco settee with rosewood arms and frame from France, 1940s. Striking large circular arms and newly woven seat and back with trestle style feet.
Cane, Rosewood
$10,435 / item
H 34.5 in W 60 in D 25 in
MARTA Blonde Oak Settee/Bench with Natural Leather/Cowhide Seat by Mandy Graham
By Mandy Graham
Located in Torrance, CA
MARTA settee by Mandy Graham MARTA M02 - settee bench sofa American walnut / sandblasted white oak, hairy cowhide seat Measures: 60" W x 25" D x 34...
Cowhide, Hide, Oak, Walnut
Sold
H 18 in W 30 in D 14 in
Jim Rose Steel Bench or Stool, Welded Steel and Salvaged Steel Panels with Color
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a welded steel small bench can also be used as step stool. it has two handles for moving and skirt of found metal strips arranged in a quilt pattern inspired by the quilts of...
Steel