Architect and designer Kem Weber arrived in the United States in the vanguard of a wave of progressive Central European talents — among them, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, Paul T. Frankl and Ilonka Karascz — who would profoundly affect the course of modernism in the United States. In his new home, Weber created a wholly American form of modern design that is sleek and stylish, yet comfortable and practical.
Karl Emanuel Martin Weber — “Kem” was his self-styled nom d’usage — was born and trained in Berlin. In 1914, he became an accidental immigrant to the U.S.. Sent to San Francisco by his teacher-turned-employer, architect Bruno Paul, to oversee an installation at a global design expo, Weber was marooned by the outbreak of World War I. But he quickly grew to love California, even if his early years there were difficult. When design commissions were hard to find, he took jobs as a lumberjack, chicken farmer and art school teacher. (He gained U.S. citizenship in 1924.)
In the mid-1920s, while working for the Los Angeles–based Barker Bros. department store — the largest furniture retailer in the country at the time — Weber regularly traveled around the nation to deliver lectures on modernism. His reputation as a champion of a new, clean and elegant style earned him architectural commissions and contracts to design furniture and items such silverware, coffee services and cocktail shakers. His masterpiece is the Airline lounge chair, designed 1934-1935. With its raked, gently angular frame and cantilevered seat, the chair suggests movement, speed and forward progress. Though it seemed perfect for mass production, Weber was never able to convince a major manufacturer to take it on. In the end, fewer than 300 Airline chairs were made. Today, those may be the rarest examples of Weber’s work, but are always worth looking out for. As you will see on these pages, his designs are both intelligent and stylish. They deserve to be a part of any serious collection of American modernism.
$4,900
KEM Weber Daybed
By Kem Weber
Located in New York, NY
Daybed upholstered in embossed vinyl with black trim. Have tubular chrome legs. Mid-Century Modern.
Chrome
Vintage Rattan Daybed
By Franco Albini
Located in Houston, TX
Midcentury Italian rattan and wood daybed attributed to Franco Albini. The curved arms and caning are often seen in designs from the 1950s-1960s. This works as a daybed, settee, or b...
Rattan
Pierre Jeanneret Daybed
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A very nice and rather rare daybed or diwan by Pierre Jeanneret for the Chandigarh Project, circa 1957. These daybeds were produced in small numbers for Punjab University Administ...
Teak
Eileen Gray Daybed
By Eileen Gray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Red leather and tubular chrome daybed by Eileen Gray, 1980s.
Steel
$2,199
H 22 in W 26.5 in D 73 in
Art Deco Daybed, KEM Weber for Lloyd, 1930s Streamline Industrial Design
By Kem Weber
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Art Deco Daybed, KEM Weber for Lloyd, 1930s Streamline Industrial Design Original "steamer" chaise lounge or daybed by Lloyd Manufacturing Co, features stunning tubular bent chrome l...
Steel
Pierre Chapo Daybed
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Dronten, NL
A refined and highly sought-after daybed by Pierre Chapo, crafted circa 1960 and executed in solid elm wood, a material emblematic of Chapo’s oeuvre. The design exemplifies his commi...
Fabric, Ash
KEM Weber Springer Armchair for Lloyd
By lloyd manufacturing co., Kem Weber
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Known as the “Springer” chair, the chairs sit on flat band chrome iron springs and function as rocking chairs. The chair retains its original chrome and with newly made cushions. ...
Metal
Jean Daybed
By Durame
Located in Milan, IT
Simple in its design, the Jean daybed is functional, comfortable and extremely elegant. With the leather seat on top of a wooden base, it is a union of form and function, making this...
Wood, Leather
Daybed Oak
Located in Plymouth, GB
The Shark Daybed was designed and crafted in-house by Founder and Furniture Designer Oliver A-J using the finest materials. Available in almost limitless variations, the Shark Daybed...
Oak
Daybed walnut
Located in Plymouth, GB
The Shark Daybed was designed and crafted in-house by Founder and Furniture Designer Oliver A-J using the finest materials. Available in almost limitless variations, the Shark Daybed...
Walnut
Kem Weber Signed Chairs
By Kem Weber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Art Deco style armchairs designed by Kem Weber. Kem Weber (1889-1963) was a German-born architect and furniture designer. Tubular chrome frames with two thick cushions. Pleas...
Metal, Chrome
Horst Bruning Daybed
By Horst Bruning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Horst Bruning for Alfred Kill International daybed, Germany 1960's
Chrome
Pavilion Daybed
By Jonathan Sainsbury
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
An important carved gilt-wood day bed, displaying the mythological influences and designs of the Regency period. Comparisons may be drawn with the furnishings of Brighton Pavilion. T...
Giltwood
Vintage Kem Weber Deco Chrome Chaise Lounge for Lloyd
By lloyd manufacturing co., Kem Weber
Located in Chicago, IL
Dramatic Kem Weber Chaise Lounge in original upholstery. The color and condition of the vinyl is in pretty nice shape minus the tear at the seam. I think if the color is desirable it...
Chrome
KEM Weber Daybed or Chaise
By lloyd manufacturing co., Kem Weber
Located in South Charleston, WV
Circa 1930-1950 KEM Weber for Lloyd Manufacturing. Naugahyde in black with white welt cording. In excellent condition with a few flea bites to material and some pitting to the tubula...
Chrome
Kem Weber Art Deco Steamer Chaise Lounge, Daybed
By lloyd manufacturing co., Kem Weber
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original "steamer" chaise lounge or daybed by the well known Lloyd Manufacturing Co, features stunning tubular bent chrome legs and dramatic white Naugahyde upholstery. Attributed to...
Chrome
KEM Weber Daybed
By Kem Weber
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
KEM Weber sleek daybed raised on tubular powder-coated legs. Upholstered in leather with hair on hide detail to sides.
Metal
KEM Weber Art Deco Chaise Daybed
By lloyd manufacturing co., Kem Weber
Located in San Francisco, CA
An Art Deco or Art Moderne streamline daybed designed by KEM Weber for Lloyd Manufacturing Co. Tubular chrome frame with old vinyl upholstery, American, 1930s.
Chrome
KEM Weber Daybed or Chaise Longue, Art Deco
By Kem Weber
Located in Buffalo, NY
Daybed upholstered in brown vinyl with white trim. with tubular chrome legs.Classic Art Deco design,,
Chrome
KEM Weber Mid-Century Modern Cot
By Kem Weber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice design KEM weber day bed. All in very good vintage condition.
KEM Weber For Lloyd Loom Art Deco Daybed
By Kem Weber
Located in Pasadena, TX
An Art Deco or Art Moderne daybed designed by KEM Weber and made by Lloyd Loom. A tubular chrome frame with black vinyl upholstery with white welting.
Chrome