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Warren McArthur Spoon Back Dining Chairs LA, CA. c. 1931

Creator: Warren McArthur
Offered by: Appleton

Description
Warren McArthur spoon back dining chairs produced in the early 1930s at the Warren McArthur Furniture Company located on Central Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The company closed in 1933.
There are very few examples of this chair around. I have only had this set of four in the past 40 years that I have dealt in Warren's furniture.
The slightly arched back support tube with its oval spoon like bend is an excellent example of the quality of his designs and the uncompromised excellence in their execution . All of the curves that are present in the chair frames required separate setups on a manual tube bender and an accomplished bender to replicate each tube perfectly.
what every major avante guard introducer faces when bringing a new design or art form to their general audience a reference to the accepted and an explanation of the validity of their new direction.
The foreward of his main furniture catalog published in 1936 explains his innovation and his choice to deliberately create a surface similar to polished silver a standard of class and quality of the past 4000 years and not the more common mirror quality of polished chrome.
"Warren McArthur originated and patented the standardized unit principle in the design, assembly and manufacture of furniture........It permits the treatment of each separate part by the anodic process which transforms the surface to an enduring untarnishable coat. It is next in hardness to the diamond, yet it possesses that velvety soft smooth feel of satin silver....."
Warren McArthur was from one of Chicago's wealthier families and his references were that of the upper class of 19th century America.
When you look at he construction of popular summer wicker furniture you can vaguely see the wrapped joints have a similar visual equivalent to the turned joinery in McArthur's furniture.
The joints on this set of chairs are Warren's first style of connectors for his aluminum furniture and they are based on a common silver napkin ring. This subtle configuration held a visual reference for many to a common upper class American household design.
The chairs are in very good condition and re-upholstered in the past thirty years.

More Information

Documentation:	Ample Provenance
Origin:	United States, California
Period:	1920-1949
Materials:	Anodized Aluminum, cast rubber, upholstery
Condition:	Good. expected wear for an 80 year old set of chairs. aluminum pins added in the last 30 years to stabilize the back cushions.
Creation Date:	c. 1931
Number of Pieces:	4-5
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Art Deco
Incollect Reference #:	582355