Caned Back Lounge Chair by Kipp Stewart for Directional
View Similar Items
Caned Back Lounge Chair by Kipp Stewart for Directional
About the Item
- Creator:Directional (Maker),Kipp Stewart (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 24.5 in (62.23 cm)Depth: 23 in (58.42 cm)Seat Height: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished, reupholstered.
- Seller Location:Danville, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU82641584812
Kipp Stewart
The ultimate multi-hyphenate, Kipp Stewart (b. 1928) counted painting, photography, architecture and furniture design among his talents. Known to furniture obsessives for the Declaration series he codesigned for North Carolina’s Drexel Furniture, Stewart was actually born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1928 and is most commonly associated with mid-century design movements of his adopted home state of California. There, in 1972, Stewart designed the Ventana Big Sur, a luxury resort near Montecito for which he oversaw architecture, planning, furniture and interior design across 160 acres of land.
By the time Stewart spearheaded the Ventana, he was already well versed in furniture design. After briefly serving in the U.S. Navy as a teenager, Stewart enrolled at the Chouinard Art Institute (present-day CalArts) in Los Angeles. By the time he graduated, he was steeped in the world of modern seating design, experimenting with new chair models that bridged form and function. Charles and Ray Eames were important influences on his early work, which included a chrome-framed lounge chair whose reclined shape bears a striking resemblance to the Eameses’ iconic lounge.
In the late 1950s, Stewart partnered with another West Coast furniture designer, Stewart MacDougall, on a line of modern furniture for Drexel. (The pair were also producing case pieces and more for Glenn of California.) Drexel soon unveiled Stewart and McDougall’s Declaration line, which was constructed entirely of natural walnut and featured the choice of white porcelain or brass drawer pulls and cabinet door handles. Although its stylish credenzas and other pieces reflect the kind of slim-lined, low-slung silhouettes for which mid-century design has become known, there are also elements that nod to earlier American and European furniture design, such as the dining chairs whose flattened spindle backs recall Shaker and Windsor chair design, distinguishing them from the modern designs becoming prolific in Scandinavia at the time. The pieces were so indicative of a particularly American style, in fact, that several items from the collection were selected by the U.S. government to represent the country at the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958.
While Stewart found success as a painter and with his Ventana hotel project — and had also designed chairs, chests and more for Directional — the Drexel Declaration line is his best-known furniture collection and remains highly sought after by collectors today.
Find a wide range of vintage Kipp Stewart furniture on 1stDibs, including dining room chairs, end tables and more.
Directional
A brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere, Directional Furniture opened its doors after American furniture designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York–based Modernage Company.
In his pivotal introduction of postwar modernism to the mass market, the revered Massachusetts-born McCobb had established several lines, from the affordable and refined Planner Group for Winchendon to the swooping and unexpected arms of the Symmetric Group for Widdicomb, a Shaker-inspired collection that included a sofa and a lounge chair. Like all of McCobb’s designs, the Directional pieces for Modernage are defined by a sleek aesthetic in which the focus is on elegant functionality, frequently using fine materials such as brass and walnut. In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company.
The pair’s first pieces were upholstered chairs, intended to harmonize with the modular Multiplex pieces designed by Martin Feinman. McCobb then designed an array of furniture including storage, dining, seating, desks and other pieces with details such as leather tops, wood finishes and Roman Travertine surfaces. While Directional stopped production of McCobb’s work in the early 1960s, it still released numerous pieces by leading designers manufactured by a variety of companies.
Designer Paul Evans led the factory for a time after joining in 1964. His provocative work for the company often reflected his understanding of materials from his early training as a silversmith, such as the popular Cityscape series — a milestone in brutalist design — with its blocky forms accented with brass and chrome. At his shop in Lambertville, New Jersey, he collaborated with a design team to clad furniture pieces in metallic surfaces, like the Argente line that began production in 1968 and involved an acetylene torch to give its aluminum material a textural quality. He also worked on the Sculpted Bronze series with hand-formed resin shaped over plywood or steel that was then coated with atomized bronze.
Other Directional designers included Vladimir Kagan, who contributed biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs; Milo Baughman, who created tables and dressers inspired by Scandinavian modernism; and Jack Lenor Larsen, who covered sofas in dynamically patterned fabric.
Find authentic Directional Furniture seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
- Lounge Chair by Kipp Stewart for Calvin FurnitureBy Kipp StewartLocated in Danville, CAHandsome occasional chair with mahogany frame meticulously refinished in dark brown lacquer and upholstered in luxurious charcoal grey velvet. All work done with painstaking quality...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Mahogany
$2,200 Sale Price26% Off - Vintage Pair of Woven Cane B35 Lounge Chairs by Marcel BreuerBy Marcel BreuerLocated in Danville, CAIncredible pair of B35 lounge chairs by Marcel Breuer. This pair is featured with original woven caning, chrome cantilever frame and beechwood armrest...Category
Mid-20th Century German Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Clara Porset Lounge ChairsBy Clara PorsetLocated in Danville, CAPair of iconic arm lounge chairs by Clara Porset from an architect, really significant building designed by Ricardo Legarreta architect located in Emeryville, California.Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsOak
$9,500 / set - Swivel Lounge Chair in Mustard Velvet by AdM BespokeLocated in Danville, CASwivel Egg chairs in the French Midcentury style. This sophisticated chair is upholstered in luxurious heavy weight, backed Mustard gold faux Mohair. This super stylish and versatile...Category
2010s American Swivel Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Hardwood
- Woodard Aluminum Swivel Lounge ChairLocated in Danville, CASculptural Aluminum Swivel Lounge Chair by Russell Woodard.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Swivel Lounge Chairs in Ivory Bouclé by AdM BespokeLocated in Danville, CASwivel egg chair in the French mid-century style. This sophisticated chair is upholstered in a luxurious heavy-weight Bouclé. This super stylish and versatile example is as comfortab...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Hardwood, Maple
- Elegant Restored Pair of Walnut Cane Chairs by Kipp Stewart for DirectionalBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Atlanta, GAThese magnificent chairs are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and installation ready. Expert custom...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCane, Walnut
- Kipp Stewart for Directional ChairsBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Brooklyn, NYPair of spectacular mid-century modern lounge chairs designed by Kipp Stewart. Scoop frame with soft leather set on polished chrome. Please confirm location NY or NJCategory
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$5,800 / set - Kipp Stewart Modern Lounge Chairs by DirectionalBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stylish pair of Mid-Century Modern "Arc" lounge chairs features heavy chrome frames and sleek Kipp Stewart design. Quality vintage craftsmanship by Directional furniture, this p...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$5,950 Sale Price / set30% Off - Pair of Slipper Lounge Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Directional 1960sBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Ft Lauderdale, FLPair of Slipper Lounge Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Directional 1960s Newly upholstered in slate gray / dark indigo cotton fabric with fiv...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Kipp Stewart for Directional Lounge Chairs in Jack Lenor Larsen VelvetBy Edward Wormley, Kipp Stewart, Harvey Probber, Directional, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Decatur, GAExceptional and rare pair of barrel back lounge chairs by Kipp Stewart for Directional with all original Jack Lenor Larsen velvet. Solid dark mahogany bases with brass casters. An el...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsVelvet
$2,554 Sale Price / set46% Off - Pair of Kipp Stewart for Directional Walnut, Cane, and Blue Leather ChairsBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in New York, NYPAIR of American Mid-Century pull up chairs with rounded back walnut frames with caned backs and sides and blue leather seat cushions, resting o...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Leather, Upholstery, Walnut