Norman Cherner Chairs
American, 1921-1987
Norman Cherner was an influential designer who explored postwar technological innovations and how to incorporate them into furniture production and architecture. And while its history is complicated, his Cherner chair is one of the most successful examples of mid-century modern molded plywood seating.
Born in New York City, Cherner was an architect and a prolific designer who taught at Columbia University’s Teachers College. An enthusiast of the Bauhaus, he gave lectures in the late 1940s on the principles of the legendary German design school at the Museum of Modern Art.
Cherner was fascinated with the concept of cost-efficient design, and this extended into his pioneering ideas for prefabricated housing. His philosophy was that a modular home should be a complete design concept that included economical furniture and lighting. He published several DIY books, such as How to Build a House for $6,000. Cherner caught the interest of a housing cooperative in upstate New York and was contracted to design and oversee the construction of prefabricated housing in the town of Ramapo. The U.S. Department of Housing assembled a pre-built Cherner home for exhibition in Vienna.
But he is best known for his chair.
In the 1950s, one of George Nelson’s designers, John F. Pile, created the Pretzel chair. It had structural problems and proved too costly to make at Herman Miller, where Nelson was director of design. Production was subcontracted to Massachusetts company Plycraft, but the agreement didn’t last long owing to a dispute between the furniture manufacturers. Based on a recommendation from Nelson, Plycraft sought out Cherner to redesign the chair so that it would be durable and affordable to produce.
Cherner submitted his redesign only to be told that Plycraft had shelved the project. However, Plycraft secretly began producing what would become the Cherner chair under a different name — and Cherner later stumbled across his seat in New York. Cherner sued Plycraft and won. The chair became instantly popular after being featured in a Norman Rockwell illustration for a Saturday Evening Post cover in September of 1961.
Other noteworthy Cherner designs include his Konwiser furniture line, Multiflex storage units and tube lighting. The Museum of Modern Art praised his Konwiser collection as “some of the most progressive furniture designs available to the American public.”
In 1972, Plycraft discontinued production of his chair, and Cherner died in 1987. In 1999, his two sons founded the Cherner Chair Company and began making furniture based on their father's original designs for armchairs, chairs — including the Cherner chair — tables and credenzas.
Find vintage Norman Cherner furniture on 1stDibs today.
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Creator: Norman Cherner
Pair of Cherner Armchair by Norman Cherner for Plycraft
By Norman Cherner
Located in Centreville, VA
Found in design collections across the world, the Cherner chair was originally made of walnut faced moulded plywood, using similar techniques to those that Charles and Ray Eames were...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Vintage Cherner Chair with a unique cowhide cover
By Norman Cherner
Located in Paris, FR
Super rare Cherner chair: a 1958 Design Icon in a unique cowhide cover.
Steam-bent walnut wood chair upholstered in cowhide.
Design by Norman Cherner. Manufactured in 1958 by Plycra...
Category
1850s American Mid-Century Modern Antique Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Cowhide, Walnut
Set of 4 Norman Cherner Directional Side Chairs Plycraft
By Directional, Plycraft, Norman Cherner
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for accurate shipping to your location.
Set of 4 Norman Cherner side chairs.
Walnut veneer on chrome bases.
These chairs have rare Directional labels.
...
Category
1960s Vintage Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Norman Cherner for Plycraft Bentwood chair with Yellow Vinyl cushion 1960s
By Norman Cherner
Located in Ocean Grove, NJ
Really cool Mid-Century Modern designer Norman Cherner for Plycraft Bent plywood chair with Yellow Vinyl (Naugahyde) cushion from the 1960s. This would have originally been used as ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Naugahyde, Bentwood, Plywood
Norman Cherner for Plycraft Bentwood Swivel Chair with Cream Upholstery
By Norman Cherner, Plycraft
Located in Chicago, IL
Attention Collectors! This architecturally captivating swivel chair designed by the acclaimed Norman Cherner is ideal for those searching for authentic Plycraft pieces from the early...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Bentwood
Iconic Mid Century Cherner Plycraft Bent Ply Chair
By Plycraft, Norman Cherner
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Mid Century bent plywood chair designed by Norman Cherner for Plycraft with original Plycraft label, dated 1964. This example is...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Plywood
Set of Norman Cherner Pretzel Dining Chairs, Made by Plycraft, USA, 1960s
By Norman Cherner, Plycraft
Located in London, GB
A set of four original Norman Cherner pretzel dining chairs, made by Plycraft, USA, in the 1960s. Bentwood frames. Priced for the s...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Norman Cherner Side Chairs
By Norman Cherner
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Pair of side chairs designed by Norman Cherner. U.S.A., Cherner, 1958.
A pair of recent production side chairs in classic walnut laminate on moulded plywood...
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Set of 5 Norman Cherner For Plycraft Steam Bent Plywood
By Norman Cherner, Plycraft
Located in New York, NY
SET of 5 American Mid-Century dining chairs with beige painted steam bent plywood frames and orange vinyl upholstered backs and seats. (NORMAN CHERNER FOR P...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Cherner Task Chair with Arms
By The Cherner Chair Company, Norman Cherner
Located in Berkeley, CA
The 1958 molded plywood task chair by Norman Cherner is now available to a new generation of furniture collectors. A strong, lightweight and graceful additi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Cherner Task Chair
By Norman Cherner, The Cherner Chair Company
Located in Berkeley, CA
The 1958 molded plywood task chair by Norman Cherner is now available to a new generation of furniture collectors. A strong, lightweight and graceful additi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Cherner Task Chair
By Norman Cherner, The Cherner Chair Company
Located in Berkeley, CA
The 1958 molded plywood task chair by Norman Cherner is now available to a new generation of furniture collectors. A strong, lightweight and graceful additi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Plycraft Chairs by Norman Cherner
By Norman Cherner
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This is a set of 4 colorful chairs designed by Norman Cherner for Plycraft. Each chair is painted in its own unique color: red, green, blue, and yellow....
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Norman Cherner Chairs
Materials
Wood
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Rare Set of Six (6) Bentwood Dining w/ Metal Bases Chairs by Norman Cherner
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As rare as they are visually stunning this extraordinary set of chairs, first designed by the iconic Norman Cherner in 1958, has recently undergone a comprehensive and transformative restoration offering a modern twist to the classic design. Considered a pioneer in molded plywood, Norman Cherner used this method to create a line of seating for Plycraft that led to his famous "Cherner Chair." This model chair is found in design collections throughout the world, including the Vitra Design Museum and the Cherner Chair is still regarded as one of the most dramatic designs utilizing the technology of molding plywood. The Cherner side chair utilizes a molded plywood seat with a unique construction of laminated walnut plywood in graduated thickness. The seats and backs are designed using a single shell connected by a slim and sturdy neck upholstered in new black vinyl nearly identical to the original material all set atop a set of slender, powder-coated metal legs. Stamped "October 31st, 1963" and retaining the original Plycraft tags these one of a kind dining chairs...
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Previously Available Items
Cherner Side Chair by Norman Cherner for Plycraft
By Norman Cherner
Located in Centreville, VA
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Norman Cherner Pretzel Armchair for Plycraft Walnut Upholstery 1960s MCM Classic
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Cherner Chair Company Molded Wood Dining Chairs, Set of 4
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Located in West Hartford, CT
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Located in Keego Harbor, MI
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Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
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H 31.25 in W 25.25 in D 22.25 in
Norman Cherner for Plycraft Mid Century Pretzel Dining Chairs, Set of 6
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Norman Cherner chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Norman Cherner chairs 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 Norman Cherner chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 5 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original chairs by Norman Cherner were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Mel Smilow, Russel Wright, and Harvey Probber. Prices for Norman Cherner chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $925 and can go as high as $22,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,919.