Plycraft Rocking Chairs
While the history of Plycraft is marred by scandal and lawsuits, the American furniture manufacturer produced charming lounge chairs and other seating during the mid-century modern era that are sought after by collectors today.
Paul Goldman founded Plycraft in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1953 — he had secured military contracts for the manufacturing of bentwood products during World War II and was able to move into the commercial market thereafter. While Plycraft counted fiberglass boats among its early offerings, its primary focus switched to furniture when what we now call mid-century modernism hit its stride and more designers began to explore the possibilities of bentwood furniture thanks to the revolutionary work of Alvar Aalto and Michael Thonet. Goldman was Plycraft’s principal designer, but George Mulhauser and Norman Cherner were also enlisted to create furniture for the brand.
In 1952, a designer named John F. Pile, who was working in the studio of Herman Miller design director George Nelson, conceived what he called the Pretzel chair in walnut and birch. Pile’s seat, which was inspired by European modernist design, proved too costly to manufacture and it had structural problems. So the illustrious Michigan furniture maker subcontracted Plycraft to produce the Pretzel chair — an agreement that was short-lived owing to a dispute between Plycraft and Herman Miller.
Goldman subsequently tapped Norman Cherner — an innovative architect, designer and professor at Columbia University who was recommended by Nelson — to create an iteration of the Pretzel chair that would be stronger and cost-efficient to manufacture.
Cherner submitted a comfortable, curvaceous update to the Pretzel chair in molded plywood but was told by Plycraft that the project was being scrapped and his drawings shelved. Months later, Cherner was shocked to stumble upon his redesigned chair in a furniture showroom in New York under the Plycraft name. Cherner sued Plycraft and won — the Cherner chair later appeared in a Norman Rockwell painting on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.
In the late 1950s, designer George Mulhauser created the Mr. Chair for Plycraft, an adjustable, tilting, swivel armchair with a matching ottoman. Mulhauser was also a designer in George Nelson’s studio and is credited with having conceived the iconic Coconut lounge chair for Herman Miller. With its tufted leather seat and shell crafted from a single sheet of plywood, the Mr. Chair lounge — part of a line of seating for which Mulhauser was commissioned — bears a resemblance to the now-legendary Eames lounge chair, which was designed by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller. Mulhauser’s chair was very successful for Plycraft. A model was even spotted on an episode of Star Trek.
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Sheepskin, Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Naugahyde, Walnut
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Metal
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Wood, Beech, Wicker
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Faux Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Ecuadorean Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Chrome
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Plycraft Rocking Chairs
Steel
Plycraft rocking chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Plycraft
- Is Plycraft the same as Eames?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024No, Plycraft is not the same as Eames. Plycraft is the name of an American furniture manufacturer founded in the early 1950s in Massachusetts. Eames refers to Charles and Ray Eames, two of the most celebrated furniture designers of the 20th century. After marrying in 1941, Charles and Ray moved to Los Angeles, where they established the Eames Office and eventually built their lifelong residence, the Eames House in Pacific Palisades as part of the Case Study House Program. Their designs are among Herman Miller’s most popular products of all time. Plycraft founder Paul Goldman was the company’s principal designer, but George Mulhauser and Norman Cherner were also enlisted to create furniture for the brand. On 1stDibs, shop vintage Eames furniture (and Plycraft, too).