Constructivist Westport Adirondack Lounge Chair, Early Modernist ON SALE Deco

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Constructivist Westport Adirondack Lounge Chair, Early Modernist ON SALE Deco

About the Item

Constructivist Westport Adirondack Lounge Chair, Early American Modernist Form PRICE REDUCED from $14,400 Precursor to American Modernist Craft Design. Pre Art Deco. Pre mid-century. Cubist, Cubism Large - scale and surprisingly comfortable. An Important American Design interpretation. Patented 1905 Design by Harry Bunnell, after an earlier design concept from Thomas Lee in 1903. Stamped original chair. Likely Ca 1920 Basswood production, in this very fine surviving condition. Fully impressed, with original expanded signature, as pictured. Significant remnants of original paint. A pre - Nakashima, Castle, Esherick New York State hand-constructed modernist craft design classic. Although apparently de Stijl, Bauhaus, Reitveld - influenced, actually an original precursor to those European designs by Harry Bunell, after Thomas Lee. After doing some planning, Bunnell took the chair concept and filed for a patent on April 4, 1904. Later, on July 18, 1905, Bunnell received his patent for the chair he called the "Westport Chair". Difficult to source a surviving example, let alone in this condition. Typically intended for outdoor use, these chairs rarely survived. The slanted chairs allowed people to sit in an upright position when placed on a steep hill. This made it possible to sit comfortably looking down the mountains because no one wanted to sit looking up the mountains. Sadly, he never told his helpful friend Thomas Lee anything about applying for a patent nor did Mr. Lee try to do anything later after he learned he received one. Nevertheless, Bunnell became successful manufacturing and selling the chair for the next twenty five years.

Creator:
Harry Bunnell (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 37 in (93.98 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 39 in (99.06 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Style:
Arts and Crafts (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Hardwood,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1920
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Vintage used condition. Finish loss, as pictured.
Seller Location:
Dallas, TX
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU94529832593