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
$10,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Aluminum Warren McArthur Sling Lounge Chairs Style No. 1000-A, 1938
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
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
$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
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
Italian Chaise Longue silk
Located in Long Island, NY
Italian Chaise Longue .Elegant and Timeless. Beautiful Reds and Gold Colors in Silk .
Silk
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
$15,088 / 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
$2,711
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
$11,756 / 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 Cornelio Cappellini, HESSENTIA
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
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
$15,137
H 38.59 in W 64.57 in D 27.56 in
Kerstin Horlin-Holmquist Garden of Eden / Lustgarden Chaise Longue Daybed, 1950s
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Kerstin Horlin Holmquist
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
Chaise by Anonymous, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1950s
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A rare mid-century Brazilian chaise combining sculptural form with ergonomic grace. Its sinuous profile, balanced between repose and motion, exemplifies the organic modernism that em...
Metal
Pair of Warren McArthur Style No. 612 Tennis Chairs , 1935
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Warren McArthur Style No. 612 Tennis Chairs ,1935 Pair of Warren McArthur webbed anodized aluminum armchairs, known as the “Tennis Chair” or Style No. 612. The chairs feature...
Aluminum
Wicker Chaise Longue with White Cushions
Located in Marbella, ES
Elegant chaise longue made of hand-woven wicker, with an enveloping design that combines comfort and sophistication. Its curved structure and padded backrest with white cushions prov...
Fabric, Wicker
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
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...