Pair of Edmond Spence "Yucatan" Chairs, Industria Meublera S.A. Mexico 1950s/60s

This elegant pair of “Yucatan” side chairs was designed by Edmond J. Spence and produced by Industria Mueblera S.A. in Mexico during the 1950s–60s. Crafted in solid mahogany with newly woven seagrass cord seats and back panels, these chairs embody the sophisticated blend of modern Scandinavian design and Mexican craftsmanship that defined Spence’s finest work.

Spence, an American designer active from the late 1940s through the 1960s, worked extensively in both Sweden and Mexico. His Mexican furniture line was titled the "Continental American Collection" and introduced in 1953 by Industria Mueblera S.A. An ad from then describes this furniture line as created from "superb raw materials, [and] fine Mexican handcrafts manship and are among the most sought-after today, known for their sculptural silhouettes, precise joinery, and sensitivity to material. The Yucatan series, produced in several variations, featured both dining and lounge forms — all sharing the signature open back, splayed legs, and handwoven seat construction seen here.

These particular examples show Spence's brilliance in interpreting the most important elements of Mexican design this “fan-back” variant, distinguished by the radiating spindles and single woven center strap that transitions fluidly into the seat. The warm patina of the dark-stained mahogany contrasts beautifully with the natural fiber texture, emphasizing the harmony of organic and geometric elements central to Spence’s design philosophy.