Prototype George Mulhauser Plycraft Sofa Very Rare
View Similar Items
Prototype George Mulhauser Plycraft Sofa Very Rare
About the Item
- Creator:George Mulhauser (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 38.5 in (97.79 cm)Width: 82 in (208.28 cm)Depth: 26 in (66.04 cm)Seat Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. In very good vintage condition with some normal wear from age and use, also markings and pre - production construction changes by the designer with thoughts toward manufacturing which is hidden by the cushions .
- Seller Location:Cincinnati, OH
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU92518464323
George Mulhauser
Reflecting on George Mulhauser’s decades-long career conjures up images of him sitting in his well-known Mr. Chair — a luxurious reclining mid-century modern lounge chair for Plycraft made from a single sheet of plywood — and thinking to himself what mark he would leave on the world of furniture design.
Mulhauser studied industrial design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated in 1953. His early designs were quite venturesome and landed him his first design job in the Manhattan studio of architect, journalist and designer George Nelson, who was the director of design for legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.
In 1955, Mulhauser designed his now-immediately recognizable Coconut chair. Angular and visually striking, this alluring lounge chair, with its sloping molded plastic shell, was something of a prelude. Soon, Mulhauser would make the acquaintance of American furniture designer Paul McCobb. Mulhauser collaborated with McCobb on concepts for molded fiberglass chairs, and McCobb’s Origami chair for Directional would become a big hit on the mid-20th century market.
Mulhauser kept busy. In his home studio, he sketched out each furniture design on paper and then translated them to handmade scale models. Mulhauser engaged his neighbors and family in trying out his sophisticated seating and gathered feedback for improvements. He designed his Mr. Chair for Plycraft — an adjustable armchair with a seat of tufted leather that yielded a series — and collaborated with many other companies throughout his career, including Directional, Singer, Overman and the Design Institute of America. He also taught furniture design at Pratt Institute, while the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts brought him on as an instructor of 3-D design.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage George Mulhauser chairs, lounge chairs and other furniture.
More From This Seller
View AllMid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Sofas
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Teak
You May Also Like
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Bentwood, Wood, Plywood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plywood
