Pair of McGuire Bamboo Barrel Chairs
View Similar Items
Pair of McGuire Bamboo Barrel Chairs
About the Item
- Creator:John and Elinor McGuire (Designer),McGuire (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Organic Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2000
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 3866-002-12991stDibs: LU3008311681341
John and Elinor McGuire
Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. For the founders of McGuire Furniture Company, well, furniture wasn’t actually in the plans.
The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs — among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design.
In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside the mid-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch.
The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair by Leonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.
Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designers Steven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis, and, as of 2019, its luxury furnishings share a 16,500-square-foot showroom with Baker’s in San Francisco. Some of the earliest McGuire Furniture Company designs are part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
Find a wide range of vintage John and Elinor McGuire furniture on 1stDibs.
McGuire
Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. For the founders of McGuire Furniture Company, well, furniture wasn’t actually in the plans.
The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs — among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design.
In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside the mid-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch.
The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair by Leonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.
Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designers Steven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis, and, as of 2019, its luxury furnishings share a 16,500-square-foot showroom with Baker’s in San Francisco. Some of the earliest McGuire Furniture Company designs are part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
Find a range of McGuire Furniture on 1stDibs.
- Pair Of McGuire Bamboo Target Back ChairsBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in San Carlos, CAGorgeous set of 2 California organic modern McGuire lounge chairs. or arm chairs. Made with thick bamboo and rattan and weaved around the joints with rawhide leather. These chairs ar...Category
Vintage 1970s American Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Bamboo, Rattan
$2,499 / set - Elinor McGuire M-86 Rattan & Cane ChairBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in Highland, INElinor McGuire designed this model M-86c occasional chair for McGuire of San Fransisco, the company she started with her husband John. The only thing more impressive than the many su...Category
Vintage 1970s American Organic Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Cane, Rattan
- McGuire Set of Four ArmchairsBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in Highland, INAnother elegant design by Elinor and John McGuire, these armchairs are not only beautiful, but incredibly well built with McGuire's patented method using rawhide binding at the joint...Category
Vintage 1960s American Organic Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Cane, Rattan
- Elinor McGuire Rattan Caned Barrel Back Arm Chairs, a PairBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in Vero Beach, FLA pair of rattan caned barrel back dining armchairs designed by breakthrough innovator Elinor McGuire. Casual luxury from McGuire San Francisco. Vintage organic modern chairs designed in the classic tradition using beautiful materials simply and sensitively. These comfortable and versatile arm chairs feature an expertly handcrafted rattan frame and McGuire’s innovative double caning technique on the back and arm panels. The barrel-back design is formed by a graceful arc of rattan cane that flows seamlessly from each armrest, meeting at the top rail. Seats have a loose cushion with vintage fabric that rests on a caned deck, and each chair retains the McGuire San Francisco brass plaque. Seat height is 20" with cushion. Chair legs are reinforced with cross stretchers accented by McGuire's signature rawhide laces. Enjoy the uncompromising quality and relaxed, timeless style that is McGuire. This M85C model is featured in McGuire's 1985 catalog. Compare to Baker McGuire...Category
Late 20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
- Elinor McGuire M-71 Occasional ChairBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in Highland, INElinor McGuire designed this model M-71 occasional chair for McGuire of San Fransisco, the company she started with her husband John. McGuire furniture is made to last for generation...Category
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Rattan
$2,800 Sale Price20% Off - Pair of McGuire Rattan Lounge ChairsBy John and Elinor McGuire, McGuireLocated in Highland, INThis beautiful pair of lounge chairs by McGuire take their sophisticated sculptural sensibility to another level. The front legs are made of twisted bands that wrap around the seat b...Category
Vintage 1970s American Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Rattan