Plywood throne. We were poking aroung Velocity Art & Design last night looking at their chair collection - which is remarkable - and found this one that we hadn't noticed before.
Designed by Norman Cherner, a Columbia grad and New Yorker, this armchair ($860 - hmm.) dates from 1958, and is the result of Cherner's immersion in Bauhaus idealism and low cost construction. Made of molded plywood laminates in graduated thicknesses, the chair is both ergonomic and strong. Isn't it remarkable what molded plywood can do? MGR
Whatevs. I'm familiar with the piece, and it's interesting in its alien-like qualities... With the disclaimer of ignorance for not having tried one, it sure don't look comfortable, know what I'm sayin, a.diddy? It's an object more than a chair... but low cost? that's some great bent plywood you're smoking.
Hey, don't knock molded plywood. Have no personal experience with the Cherner (although it really is lovely), but I know that the Eames plywood chair and Arne Jacobsen's molded plywood stuff are incredibly comfortable because the chair backs have some "give" (Never tried smoking 'em though)
My gripe is purely with this piece... I love the Eames plywood chair, and love looking at these plywood possibilities, but this particular chair looks like some kind of anti-ergonomic nonsense to me... sculpture-heavy rather than comfort-heavy. The back looks out of proportion, and I dunno... it just offends my eyes. I promise to try one out as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, what if we cast one in stainless steel and attached some high voltage wires to it? No, I wouldn't volunteer to try that one out.
My gripe is purely with this piece... I love the Eames plywood chair, and love looking at these plywood possibilities, but this particular chair looks like some kind of anti-ergonomic nonsense to me... sculpture-heavy rather than comfort-heavy. The back looks out of proportion, and I dunno... it just offends my eyes. I promise to try one out as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, what if we cast one in stainless steel and attached some high voltage wires to it? No, I wouldn't volunteer to try that one out...
And the price... Come on... $860 was it? This is not my understanding of the designer's intent.
Ok, ok, I get ya. I vaguely remember reading a profile of son'o'Cherner (or at least s'o'C's apartment) in Dwell a year ago or so. (He lives in the East Village, I think). He had a few family heirlooms and they did look pretty good all together around the table. (On the other hand, I think I also remember seeing one in The Ice Storm...) I'm just saying, is all....and hey, I'll even chip in for the sponges for the electrodes.
I purchased the armless version of these chairs for my dining table and I must tell you that they are extremely comfortable and much cheaper than the extremely fabulous cherner chairs with arms. I think that they have a very fun, clean and feminine profile.
Okay, I'm a convert. I'm looking for a sofa or sofa bed these days and made a trip to the Terence Conran Shop this weekend. They have a Cherner armchair on the landing going downstairs and I realized I might have to eat my words, but I owed it to Mr. Cherner to try his design out. I put my meaty butt down on the chair. What can I say? COMFORTABLE. Got up, looked back at the chair, and the pumpkin was transformed into a thing of beauty. Who's going to buy me a pair?
really enjoyed the cherner chair discussion.
here is the side chair fyi almost half the price of the armed version
Has anyone ever seen the Cherner chair with upholstered seat/back? I am thinking of ordering itin walnut with cream coloured leather pads but am concerned that the pads might change the line of the chair, which I find beautifully fluid.
I have two armless Walnut Cherrner chairs and two with those fabulous arms around my Eames white marble Tulip dining table and they are elegant, minimal (even the one with arms), fun and both feminine and sculpture-like, and very comfortable, and with a Panton Fun One Polished Chrome Disks pendant light fixture hanging above the table and chairs it is quite exquisite and unique looking! I love Mid-Century Modern pieces...can't go wrong with them! Fran
I have two armless Walnut Cherrner chairs and two with those fabulous arms around my Eames white marble Tulip dining table and they are elegant, minimal (even the one with arms), fun and both feminine and sculpture-like, and very comfortable, and with a Panton Fun One Polished Chrome Disks pendant light fixture hanging above the table and chairs it is quite exquisite and unique looking! I love Mid-Century Modern pieces...can't go wrong with them!
i've been sitting on the armless version of this chair since 1968, and can absolutely vouch for it's comfort... like or hate the looks (i love 'em), but it's one of the most comfortable chairs i've ever sat in.