Set of Four 20th Century McGuire Rattan and Leather Armchairs with Red Cushions
View Similar Items
Set of Four 20th Century McGuire Rattan and Leather Armchairs with Red Cushions
About the Item
- Creator:McGuire (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 35.25 in (89.54 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)Length: 35.25 in (89.54 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:Seller: 19-CH-0451stDibs: LU827215961361
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.
- Set of Four McGuire Laced Rawhide Rattan Dining ArmchairsBy McGuireLocated in Rio Vista, CAGenuine set of four rare McGuire Antalya directors style dining armchairs featuring lattice style laced rawhide woven leather seats and back. Model #MC...Category
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Bamboo, Rattan
- Set of Four McGuire Woven Rawhide Rattan Dining ArmchairsBy McGuireLocated in Rio Vista, CARare set of four woven leather rawhide and rattan dining armchairs from McGuire's Antalya collection. Hand-crafted in the coastal California modern organic style featuring a thick rattan pole frame covered with a geometric pattern of woven lattice leather rawhide laces. The leather and rattan have a natural warm pecan light...Category
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rattan
- Set of Six McGuire Rattan Fan Back Dining ArmchairsBy McGuireLocated in Rio Vista, CAExceptional set of six rattan dining armchairs made in the California coastal organic modern style by McGuire. The chairs feature a bentwood rattan frame with gracefully curved arms ...Category
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Rattan
- McGuire Chippendale Bamboo Rattan White Dining Armchairs, Set of 4By McGuireLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor full item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing. Offering one of our recent Palm Beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a set of 4 mcguire style chippendale style coastal MCM bamboo...Category
Vintage 1980s Unknown Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRattan, Bamboo
- Set of Three McGuire Rattan Leona Loop Back Dining ArmchairsBy McGuireLocated in Rio Vista, CAElegant set of three McGuire rattan loop back dining armchairs made in the California coastal organic modern style. One of McGuire's most iconic and beautiful chair styles designed b...Category
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Rattan
- 1970s, McGuire Target Style Rattan Dining Side Armchairs, Set of 4By McGuireLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLHandsome set of four rattan dining armchairs crafted in the manner and style of McGuire. They feature a bullseye target design on the square back splat. Graceful arms conjoin to a ge...Category
Vintage 1970s Philippine Organic Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRattan