Few 20th-century designers had influential furniture that regularly flew at 30,000 feet, but Warren McArthur did. His work on seating for military aircraft came near the end of his career, following decades of Machine Age furniture shaped from tubular forms and made of steel, chrome and aluminum.
Warren McArthur Jr. graduated with an engineering degree from Cornell University in 1908. After moving to Los Angeles in 1929, he founded the Warren McArthur Corporation a year later. His initial output of sleek, metal designs were popular in offices and hotels.
At the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Americans witnessed a new “Streamlined America” campaign, which included everyday furniture made from metal, opening the door for McArthur and other Machine Age designers to a residential audience. With this increase in demand for metal furniture, the Warren McArthur Corporation relocated to Rome, New York, and sold their aluminum furnishings out of a showroom on Park Avenue in New York City.
Actors Marlene Dietrich, Fredric March and Clark Gable were among his A-list clientele. McArthur also produced furniture for the dining cars on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Chrysler Headquarters. His designs were featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1934 exhibition “Contemporary American Industrial Art.”
During World War II, McArthur pivoted production after a ban on the private use of aluminum. McArthur made an estimated three-quarters of all American military aircraft seating, including adjustable seats for the Beechcraft C-45 and revolving seats for navigators aboard the Grumman HU-16 Albatross.
Warren McArthur closed his business in 1948. He died in 1961.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Warren McArthur armchairs, tables and other seating.
Warren McArthur, Chaise Longue, Aluminum, White Fabric, USA, c. 1930s
By Warren McArthur
Located in High Point, NC
An aluminum and white fabric chaise longue designed and produced by Warren McArthur, USA, c. 1930s. Dimensions: 33.5" H x 26.5" W x 61.75" D Seat Heigh...
Aluminum
$6,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Warren McArthur Pair of Chaise Loungues Style No. 1018 NAMCO Australia 1950s
By Warren McArthur, Namco
Located in Camden, ME
Pair of Warren McArthur Style No. 1018 chaises, produced by Namco Ltd. in Australia during the early 1950s under license from the Warren McArthur Corporation. These rare post-war exa...
Aluminum
$10,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Aluminum Warren McArthur Sling Lounge Chairs Style No. 1000-A, 1938
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Camden, ME
Pair of lounge chairs by Warren McArthur manufactured at his factory in Connecticut in the late 1930s. The designs that Warren introduced in the very beginning of his furniture making he referred to as "suspension chairs...
Aluminum
Warren McArthur, Chaise Longue, Aluminum, White Fabric, USA, c. 1930s
By Warren McArthur
Located in High Point, NC
An aluminum and white fabric chaise longue designed and produced by Warren McArthur, USA, c. 1930s. Reupholstered at some point in recent history, fabric in fair condition. Dimensi...
Aluminum
Leather BoConcept Chaise Longue
By BoConcept
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage BoConcept chaise lounge with relax function. In natural black leather, chrome steel base/legs. Label: BoConcept. Very good vintage condition.
Metal, Chrome
$14,935 / set
H 27.96 in W 28.35 in D 32.29 in
Danish Mordern Pair of Curved Lounge Chairs, Original Fabric, Fritz Hansen, 1940
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Odense, DK
A rare luxurious pair of easy chairs with some beautiful curves. Original fabric with flower motif, made by a skilled Danish cabinetmaker in the 1940s. Very likely made at the Danish...
Fabric, Beech
$2,683
H 33.5 in W 72 in D 33.5 in
French Chaise Longue with New Upholstery in Striae Velvet, circa 1930s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Gorgeous 1930s French chaise longue with a puristic design and a lovely curved shape and mounted on ball feet. The piece has been newly upholstery in a beige stria velvet. A very com...
Velvet, Wood
$11,644 / item
H 29.93 in W 72.84 in D 30.32 in
Contemporary Chaise Longue by Hessentia Upholstered with Off-White Bouclè Fabric
By HESSENTIA, Cornelio Cappellini
Located in Carate, Brianza (MB)
Inspired by the legendary 1970s, Denver has a shape whose design is clearly visible from the side. The chaise longue is composed of two elements: the...
Metal
Folded Cruise Ship Chaise-Longue, USA, 1890
Located in Milan, IT
Folded cruise ship rocking chaise-longue made out of oak wood, Vienna staw, and Franzy leather. Manufactured by Marks, New York 1890 ca.
Iron
Selection of Warren McArthur Chairs
By Warren McArthur
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Art Deco aluminum chairs, designed by Warren McArthur, American, circa 1930s. These can be used as dining, desk, or occasional cha...
Metal, Aluminum
1950s Mid-Century Upholstered Chaise With Attached Table
By Ekornes
Located in Charleston, SC
This European mid-century modern Chaise is beautifully upholstered in a green and cream silk blend fabric. I believe this might be a much earlier version of the "svanette" sofa des...
Silk, Upholstery, Beech
Pair of Petite Lounge Chairs by Warren McArthur
By Warren McArthur
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of petite lounge chairs designed by Warren McArthur for the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, 1929. Reupholstered in a Holly Hunt boucle.
Aluminum
$15,108
H 38.59 in W 64.57 in D 27.56 in
Kerstin Horlin-Holmquist Garden of Eden / Lustgarden Chaise Longue Daybed, 1950s
By Kerstin Horlin Holmquist, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist Garden of Eden (Lustgarden) chaise longue or daybed. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniets, Sweden, 1958. Newly reupholstered in green velvet.
Fabric, Beech
$240,000
H 27 in W 63 in D 22.5 in
Charlotte Perriand, Chaise longue basculante, B306 Lounge Chair, France, 1930s
By Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in New York, NY
This iconic model designed by the young Charlotte Perriand, together with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, was manufactured by Thonet-France from 1930 to 1937 and sold under the re...
Copper, Steel
$3,876 / item
H 34.25 in W 23.63 in D 58 in
Teak Chaise Longue with Off-White Fabric and Vintage-Inspired Design, Wave Line
By Uultis Design
Located in Miami, FL
A Wave chaise longue by Larissa Batista for Uultis, in teak wood and upholstered in off-white fabric. *Please check availability prior to purchase*. The Wave chaise longue, designed...
Upholstery, Teak, Fabric
$4,000 / set
H 28.35 in W 25.6 in D 31.11 in
Art Nouveau, Pair of Lounge Chairs in Oak, Reupholstered in Style Fabric, 1920s
Located in Odense, DK
Rare pair of sculptural lounge chairs / armchairs in solid oak, reupholstered in royal style fabric. Made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the early 1900s. These beautiful vintage chairs ...
Fabric, Oak
Warren McArthur Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur lounge chair model #1002 and ottoman model #1061 Reupholstered with great plains fabric. Ottoman measurements: 15.5" H x 25.5" W x 24.5" D
Aluminum
Warren McArthur Chaise
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Early and important McCarthur Chaise,model 55 Designed 1931 Signed with applied manufacturer's label to underside of arm: [Warren McArthur Furniture Los Angeles, Calif. Patents Pend...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Pair of Warren McArthur Chaise Longue Chairs
By Warren McArthur
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Warren McArthur Chaise Lounge Chairs, American, circa 1930's. Rare streamlined aluminum chaise lounges, recently reupholstered in white color linen upholstery. The price note...