Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Eames-Style Lounge Chair and Ottoman
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Eames-Style Lounge Chair and Ottoman
About the Item
- Creator:Plycraft (Maker)
- Attributed to:George Mulhauser (Designer)
- Similar to:Charles and Ray Eames (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 39 in (99.06 cm)Width: 32 in (81.28 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)Seat Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Some aging to chrome and minor nicks to plywood. Original upholstery is in great condition.
- Seller Location:Topeka, KS
- Reference Number:Seller: 414-SEA-0291stDibs: LU187335853623
Plycraft
While the history of Plycraft is marred by scandal and lawsuits, the American furniture manufacturer produced charming lounge chairs and other seating during the mid-century modern era that are sought after by collectors today.
Paul Goldman founded Plycraft in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1953 — he had secured military contracts for the manufacturing of bentwood products during World War II and was able to move into the commercial market thereafter. While Plycraft counted fiberglass boats among its early offerings, its primary focus switched to furniture when what we now call mid-century modernism hit its stride and more designers began to explore the possibilities of bentwood furniture thanks to the revolutionary work of Alvar Aalto and Michael Thonet. Goldman was Plycraft’s principal designer, but George Mulhauser and Norman Cherner were also enlisted to create furniture for the brand.
In 1952, a designer named John F. Pile, who was working in the studio of Herman Miller design director George Nelson, conceived what he called the Pretzel chair in walnut and birch. Pile’s seat, which was inspired by European modernist design, proved too costly to manufacture and it had structural problems. So the illustrious Michigan furniture maker subcontracted Plycraft to produce the Pretzel chair — an agreement that was short-lived owing to a dispute between Plycraft and Herman Miller.
Goldman subsequently tapped Norman Cherner — an innovative architect, designer and professor at Columbia University who was recommended by Nelson — to create an iteration of the Pretzel chair that would be stronger and cost-efficient to manufacture.
Cherner submitted a comfortable, curvaceous update to the Pretzel chair in molded plywood but was told by Plycraft that the project was being scrapped and his drawings shelved. Months later, Cherner was shocked to stumble upon his redesigned chair in a furniture showroom in New York under the Plycraft name. Cherner sued Plycraft and won — the Cherner chair later appeared in a Norman Rockwell painting on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.
In the late 1950s, designer George Mulhauser created the Mr. Chair for Plycraft, an adjustable, tilting, swivel armchair with a matching ottoman. Mulhauser was also a designer in George Nelson’s studio and is credited with having conceived the iconic Coconut lounge chair for Herman Miller. With its tufted leather seat and shell crafted from a single sheet of plywood, the Mr. Chair lounge — part of a line of seating for which Mulhauser was commissioned — bears a resemblance to the now-legendary Eames lounge chair, which was designed by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller. Mulhauser’s chair was very successful for Plycraft. A model was even spotted on an episode of Star Trek.
- Mid 20th MCM Mr. Chair Lounge Chair & Ottoman by George Mulhauser for PlycraftBy Plycraft, George MulhauserLocated in Topeka, KSFabulous Mid Century Modern “The Mr. Chair” lounge chair & ottoman by George Mulhauser for Plycraft comprised of walnut bentwood frames or shells, tan vinyl or faux leather, black pa...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$3,996 Sale Price / set20% Off - Modern Century Furniture Swivel Barrel Chair Off White & Blue Diamond BrocadeBy Century FurnitureLocated in Topeka, KSLovely modern swivel barrel chair with off white & beige base & navy-blue diamond brocade fabric by Century Furniture. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and n...Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsBrocade
$1,836 Sale Price20% Off - MCM Scandinavian Modern Style High Back Lounge Chair & Ottoman Attr Home ChairLocated in Topeka, KSMarvelous MCM (a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern) Scandinavian Style high back lounge chair and ottoman attributed to Home Chair Company. This set has been ...Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
$3,196 Sale Price / set20% Off - Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mocha Colored Velvet Club Lounge Chair Style DunbarBy Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Topeka, KSWonderful vintage Mid-Century Modern mocha colored velvet club or lounge chair in the style of Dunbar. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will h...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
$1,836 Sale Price20% Off - Eames PAC Yellow Padded Swivel Armchair w/Gray Fiberglass Shell & Aluminum BaseBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Topeka, KSIconic vintage Eames PAC, pivoting armchair on cast aluminum base, with yellow Naugahyde padded swivel seat on gray fiberglass shell. It is in wonderful vint...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
$1,196 Sale Price20% Off - Pair Vintage Mid-Century Modern Red Cone Chairs Verner Panton for Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Verner PantonLocated in Topeka, KSMagnificent vintage mid-century modern pair of red Cone chairs by Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen comprised of red hopsacking covered bent sheet metal frames, loose round seat cushions, and 4 prong swivel chrome bases with black glides. This piece has been attributed based upon archived research including online sources, vintage documentation and catalogs, designer literature, and other materials. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. We have found no outstanding flaws. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1970-1980’s. MY. OH. MY…. What have we HERE??? This is a phenomenal pair of iconic “Cone Chairs” by Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen!!! The Cone chair was originally designed by Verner Panton in Denmark in 1957. As the name suggests, the body of the chair takes the form of a cone. Standing on its tip, a semi-circular padded shell extends upwards to form the back and armrests, thereby creating a very comfortable and eye appealing armchair. This pair is comprised of fabric covered sheet metal frames bent into a cone shape, gorgeous bright red hopsacking with white stitching, a loose round seat cushion, and a flat 4-prong chrome base with swivel feature and black glides. If you remove the round seat you can view inside the cone base. An original set of red cone chairs much like ours debut in Verner Panton’s father’s restaurant called “Kom Igen” (meaning: Come Again in Danish) in 1958. How COOL is that?? And a fun little history fact on the Cone chair is that it was originally manufactured by Percy Von Halling-Koch who founded the company “Plus Linje” specifically to produce the Cone chair. In the 70’s, they were manufactured by Fritz Hansen, until 2004 when Swiss manufacturer “Vitra” took over… and they still produce them today. Ours are definitely vintage and throughout our extensive research we believe they were made in the Fritz Hansen era. In a statement made by Verner Panton’s friend Niels-Jorgan Kaiser, he explains the design of the Cone chair as “a ballet dancer standing on her toes and easily turning pirouettes’, supported by a flat four-star base.” His genius to use the geometric form and outstanding bright colors were beyond his time, which was a breakthrough in the history of chair design. And his designs are still classic. They are mid-century modern in style with an Atomic or Mod flair, although they are made in Denmark… so they also have a bit of Scandinavian SASS, and they are sure to make a statement in any room of your home. They would be FABULOUS in a game room, at the counter of your indoor bar...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsSheet Metal
$3,996 Sale Price / set20% Off
- Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Murphy MillerBy George Mulhauser, PlycraftLocated in Brooklyn, NYA stunning 1960s lounge chair by Murphy Miller. This gently used swivel lounge chair boasts winged walnut armrests and vinyl upholstery. A vintage gem th...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Walnut
$1,470 Sale Price30% Off - Original Charles Eames Herman Miller Lounge Chair and Ottoman 1959By Charles and Ray EamesLocated in St.Petersburg, FLA classic and original first edition- ca' 1950s Charles Eames for Herman Miller lounge chair and ottoman, known as 670 and 671. Black leather and rosewood,...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
$23,200 Sale Price20% Off - Plycraft Style Walnut Bentwood and Upholstered Swivel Lounge ChairBy George Mulhauser, Murphy Miller Inc., PlycraftLocated in Garnerville, NYA nice black vinyl upholstered channeled back and walnut bentwood swivel lounge chair attributed to Miller Murphy, Inc. The chair swivels and has a relaxing little bounce action. Sli...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut, Bentwood
- Mid Century Modern 1960s Plycraft George Mulhauser “Mr. Chair” and OttomanBy George Mulhauser, PlycraftLocated in Phoenix, AZ1960s vintage Mr. Chair and ottoman by George Mulhauser for Plycraft. This iconic mid century modern chair features sculptural bent walnut armrests and brand new black vinyl tufted u...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Walnut
- Charles Eames Aluminum Group Lounge Chair and Ottoman for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Dallas, TXCharles and Ray Eames 'Aluminum Group' lounge chair model EA124 and ottoman model EA125. This is an early production one-owner example that has been very well ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Classic Eames for Herman Miller Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Rosewood and LeatherBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in New York, NYArguably the most iconic Midcentury design ever produced, the Eames 670 /671 chaired ottoman remain as important and relevant today as when it was first introduced. This example feat...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRosewood, Leather
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.