1950s Russel Wright Vintage Folding Patio Armchairs in Black
About the Item
- Creator:Russel Wright (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 3
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Additions or alterations made to the original. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Preowned vintage unrestored condition. Chairs have been painted black. Expect vintage wear on the finish, imperfections present. See images provided please.
- Seller Location:Chula Vista, CA
- Reference Number:
Russel Wright
While industrial designer Russell Wright may be known to modern furniture enthusiasts for his streamlined end tables, dining chairs and other pieces, he is universally revered for a line of tableware he created called American Modern. Efficient, practical, and striking in their elegant forms and warm colors, the American Modern ceramic pieces, which included bowls, pitchers, dishes, and other items, became the best-selling dinnerware of all time. Today, vintage Russell Wright American Modern tableware is an evergreen favorite of art collectors and interior designers alike.
Born in 1904 in Ohio, Wright was surrounded by inspiration for the furniture he would one day design. He was raised in a Quaker household and grew up with the spare, meticulously handcrafted furniture for which the Quakers are known. As a young man, he studied art and sculpture at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the Art Students League of New York, going on to study law at Princeton University in New Jersey. But Wright loved the arts and abandoned his pursuit of a law degree to create stage sets in Princeton and Paris alongside fellow noted designer Norman Bel Geddes.
In 1927, Wright married artist and sculptor Mary Einstein. Together, they moved to New York City, where Wright began to create sculptures. Mary convinced him to create metal bookends from his sculptures, and later, when he began to craft bar accessories from chrome, he turned to aluminum, a much cheaper material for the purposes of mass production (his barware was eventually included in the "Machine Art" show at the Museum of Modern Art in 1934, which was curated by Philip Johnson).
Mary worked on marketing Russell's products, successfully proposing everyday uses for Wright's beautifully designed housewares. She is said to have been a pioneer in the world of lifestyle marketing, coining the terms "American Modern" and "blonde" to describe the charming, light-colored maple furniture he created for Conant Ball, which was known at the time for its reproductions of American Colonial furniture.
While Wright had created some Art Deco furnishings for Heywood-Wakefield, it was this group of bedroom furniture for Conant Ball that got its name, American Modern, from Mary. Under her guidance, Wright's attractive, functional designs for the home gained renown, leading to commissions by prestigious companies like the Steubenville Pottery Company.
In 1935, Wright formed Russell Wright Associates with Irving Richards, an entrepreneur who had worked with Lightolier and would later establish Raymor. In collaboration with Richards, Wright debuted the first line of American Modern dinnerware in 1939, which was initially produced by Russell Wright Associates and then manufactured by Steubenville for two decades. The line sold over 200 million pieces during its 20 years of production. In 1955, Wright was selected by the U.S. State Department to research handicraft industries in Southeast Asia, a trip that influenced his later designs.
Throughout his life, Wright continued to design furniture and housewares, with the works' signature earth tones, curved forms, and clean silhouettes of his floor lamps, lounge chairs, and serveware remaining popular staples in American households. In his later years, he focused on designing and building his home, Manitoga, and working with the National Parks Service to develop the "Summer in the Parks" program.
Upon Wright's death in 1974, Manitoga was given to the Nature Conservancy. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and today houses the Russell & Mary Wright Design Gallery, where many of Wright's works stand on permanent display. In 2011, stamps from the U.S. Postal Service featured Wright's image as one of the United States' twelve most influential industrial designers.
Find vintage Russel Wright lighting, seating, tables, serveware, ceramics and glass on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: National City, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1950s Creamer Laurel of Calif Cerama Stone Russel Wright ModernBy Russel WrightLocated in Chula Vista, CAAmerican Modern Ceramic Creamer Pottery Stoneware MCM USA Calif 1950s after Russel Wright stamped Laurel of Calif Cerama Stone 3.13 h x 10.25 w x 3.75 Preowned original unrestored vi...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- 1950s Hacienda Armchairs in Palmwood Mexican Estate GuadalajaraBy Francisco Artigas, Luis BarraganLocated in Chula Vista, CAExclusive Armchairs Exotic Palmwood Stately Hacienda 1950s Guadalajara Mexico Estate Raw materials in an organic modern midcentury piece unparalleled quality and craftmanship. Tropical Sustainable Palm Wood. In the style of architect Francisco Artigas...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Palmwood
- 1950s Sensational Armchairs Gigi Radice Minotti ItalyBy MinottiLocated in Chula Vista, CA1950s Minotti Vintage Italian Armchairs Attributed to Gigi Radice for Minotti Unmarked 37 h x 29.5 w x 31 d Seat 15.5 h Arm rest 23.75 Preowned origina...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- 1950s Octavio Vidales Armchairs Mahogany Mexico City RestoredBy Octavio VidalesLocated in Chula Vista, CATwo Armchairs by Octavio Vidales for Muebles Johrvy Mexican Modernism 1950s Mexico City Features new upholstery gray-silver velvety fabric. Wonderful brass accents. Wood base has g...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass, Gold Leaf
- 1950s Stately Gray Armchairs Mahogany & Bronze by Arturo PaniBy Arturo PaniLocated in Chula Vista, CAPair of Stately arm chairs in Mexican mahogany wood with bronze. Mexico 1950s Attributed to Arturo Pani. Pieces are unmarked. Incredibly elegant and ...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBronze
- 1950s Eames for Herman Miller Dax Fiberglass Shell Armchair ParchmentBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Chula Vista, CAGorgeous early production 1950s classic Eames for Herman Miller Dax Molded Fiberglass Shell Armchair parchment with black metal base 31 h x 24.5 w x 23.5 d Arm rest 25 Seat 18 Preow...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Modernist Armchair Designed by Russel Wright for Conant Ball, circa 1950By Russel WrightLocated in Philadelphia, PAA modernist armchair designed by Russel Wroght for Conant Ball, circa 1950.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- Samson Folding Chair Russel Wright Shwayder Bros Inc. 1950sBy Shwayder Brothers, Russel WrightLocated in Forest Grove, PAA single plywood and salmon color enameled iron folding armchair designed by Russel Wright for Shwayder Bros Inc. Signed with decal manufacturer's label to underside: [Samson Chairs...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Russel Wright Outdoor/Patio Steel Folding Chair by Schwayder Bros, 5 AvailableBy Russel WrightLocated in Van Nuys, CAOriginal 1950 Russel Wright designed Steel Patio folding chair with original "Schwayder Bros Russel Wright" tag along the bottom. The chair features a black enameled tubular frame wi...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- 5 Vintage Niko Kralj Folding Plywood Armchairs, Slovenia, 1950sBy Niko KraljLocated in Grand Cayman, KYMid Century Modern Vintage and Ingenious folding "Rex" lounge chairs by Niko Kralj (1920-2013). 5 Available. Niko Kralj is one of the central figures of Slovenian post-war industria...Category
Vintage 1950s Slovenian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood, Beech, Birch, Bentwood, Plywood
- Russel Wright Easy Chair for Conant Ball's, American Modern, 1935By Conant Ball, Russel WrightLocated in Buffalo, NYRare Art Deco easy chair designed by Russel Wright for Conant Ball American modern in 1935 ,solid maple contraction with original cushions retains original finish ,patina..,, signed ...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Maple
- Italian White Metal Patio Armchair, Wood Stripes, 1950sLocated in Milan, ITRare 1950s patio armchair featuring a white metal frame supporting thin organic-shaped wood slabs.Category
Vintage 1950s European Armchairs
MaterialsMetal