Cantilevered chair with a frame made of bent, chromium-plated tubular steel. Instead of separate legs, the chair is held upright by the L-shaped tube connected by a supporting U-shaped base in one continuous piece. The flat, rectangular back and separate thick, square seat are upholstered with brown leather; the latter appearing to float in between the tubes, save for the thin metal anchors in the back. The matching flat, rectanglar back and armrests wrap around the frame.

See more objects with the tag architecture, industrial design, tubular, office, cantilever, tubular steel.

Object Timeline

1931	Work on this object began.
2015	We acquired this object. We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Armchair from the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building Armchair, 1931

This is a Armchair. It was designed by William E. Lescaze. It is dated 1931 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is chromium-plated steel, leather upholstery, oak. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

William Lescaze used this model of chair in several buildings, including the PSFS Building in Philadelphia. A variant of this design appeared in Elizabeth Arden’s New York salon, whose 1931 décor, designed by Mrs. John Alden Carpenter, also included a lamp by Sabino, seen elsewhere in the exhibition.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

Folding Chair Armchair
maple (wood), paint, metal.
Museum purchase from General Acquisition Endowment.
1985-29-2-a/d

B3 Chair
chrome-plated tubular steel, canvas.
Gift of Gary Laredo.
1956-10-1-a,b

B5 Side Chair
bent chrome-plated tubular steel, eisengarn (parafin treated cotton canvas).
Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
2007-9-1

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This is a cantilevered chair with a curved support made of tubular steel, on which a cane seat and chair are woven tightly in between. Most prominent is the use of curved tubular steel frame. From the chair shape to the the bottom half, the steel frame transitions seamlessly from chair back, to seat, to dramatic, round, half circle shape front 'legs' into a square support on the bottom for feet, in one single piece. This curving to square design is repeated for chair's arms: a singular tube creates two, long rounded supports that seamlessly transitions into flat arms on either side of the chair and is squared off behind the chair's back. Along the chair's arms, seat, and back is a dark brown woven cane.

Model MR534 Lounge Chair
bent nickel-plated tubular steel, cane.
Gift of the David Teiger Trust.
2016-36-7

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 61 × 63.5 × 54.6 cm (24 in. × 25 in. × 21 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

Armchair from the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building Armchair, 1931; Designed by William E. Lescaze (American, b. Switzerland, 1896–1969); chromium-plated steel, leather upholstery, oak; H x W x D: 61 × 63.5 × 54.6 cm (24 in. × 25 in. × 21 1/2 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2015-41-9

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/BKmDi/
Accession Number 2015-41-9
Object ID 404536619