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Early Ralph Rapson Rocker for Knoll

About the Item

Rocker designed by Minneapolis-based architect Ralph Rapson. Part of a line of chairs designed for Knoll and produced for a short time just after WWII. Rapson was a student at Cranbrook and contemporary of Charles Eames, Florence Schust (Knoll) and Eero Saarinen, for whom he briefly worked. He taught at MIT and practiced in Boston until 1954, when he moved to Minnesota. The rocker is his iconic furniture design, but is rare to the market in either its webbed or upholstered versions. The present chair has a birch frame and is re-webbed using Knoll cotton webbing.
  • Creator:
    Ralph Rapson (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Width: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1948
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Fine overall condition. The frame has been lightly refurbished but shows variegation and signs of age, especially discoloration along a back rail (see photos.). The webbing is new.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU828518043031
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