Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR 3 Seater Sofa Celadon Mohair 1938

Rare and early Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR three-seat sofa, circa 1938. This example represents a transitional phase in McArthur’s production, preceding his later work designing aircraft seating during the late 1930s and World War II.

Constructed with McArthur’s patented system of precision-engineered anodized aluminum tubing, the frame exemplifies his mastery of structural lightness and visual clarity. The softly contoured seat and back reflect his ergonomic sensibility and his pursuit of mechanical elegance in domestic furnishings.

Distinctive black rubber “donuts” at both the feet and armrests are original design features, later replaced in subsequent production with smaller fittings. This early detail, combined with the elongated frame geometry, firmly situates the piece within McArthur’s pre-war output.

Upholstered in a celadon green mohair with contrasting ivory piping, the sofa presents a refined interplay of color and texture — industrial yet luxurious. The aluminum retains a subtle, even patina consistent with age.

This example is both labeled and cataloged, underscoring its authenticity within McArthur’s documented oeuvre. It is only the second 977L AUR I have handled; the last example was acquired in 2013.

A superb and historically significant work from one of America’s foremost machine-age designers, bridging the evolution from streamline moderne furniture to wartime aerospace innovation.