Author(s): The Center For Art in Wood

Design

Over 200 photographs plus insightful essays from a variety of perspectives celebrate the chair -- the centrepiece of furniture arts over the course of American furniture making -- in this inspiring showcase of 45 works from 39 artists. These chairs, benches, and stools are sculptural, conceptual, functional (and occasionally dysfunctional) seating, reflecting the dramatic latest evolution since the storied history of chairmaking in Philadelphia. Statements by each of the artists offer their sources of inspiration and creativity. The chairs, set against the backdrop of the world's mass-production and petroleum-based materials, stand as a beacon to the vitality and critical importance of independent artisans and designers in raising the bar of excellence in the built world. A one-of-a-kind history of Philadelphia chair design, with full-page images of 40 historic chairs, is also featured. Compiled by Joshua Lane, the Lois F and Henry S McNeil Curator of Furniture, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, it details their evolution and makers, and their significance in furniture history.