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Rare Warren McArthur Stainless Steel Nest of Tables 1934/35

Creator: Warren McArthur
Offered by: Appleton

Description
A nest of 3 side tables by the Warren McArthur Corporation from the mid 1930s with stainless steel frames manufactured in Rome, New York..

Union Carbide commissioned this nest of tables with 14 other McArthur pieces in stainless steel for the terrace of a summer home in Glen Cove N.Y..

The introduction of an innovative stainless steel awning frame for the terrace was the reason for the commission. The assembly and installation of the awning along with a complete documentation of the Warren McArthur furnishings were presented in an article in Union Carbide's journal on stainless steel Electromet published in November, 1936.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YAIEK5DLFmoQt1B2ANl5OiSjUya0oOdW/view?ts=5a7cbdd4

A single installation view from the same photo session was used by the Warren McArthur Corporation as the frontice photo of an advertising pamphlet for the Warren McArthur Corporation in 1935.

The McArthur pamphlet makes no mention of this unique use of stainless steel instead starts off with "SMART NEW WARREN MCARTHUR CREATIONS IN ANODIC ALUMINUM....VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE AND UNTARNISHABLE. advertising several pieces of McArthur furniture none of which were used for this terrace project.

The documentation for the aluminum framed versions of these tables appears on page 23 of the 1936 Warren McArthur Catalog which was published in conjunction with the Old Point Comfort convention of the American Institute of Architects at which Warren McArthur was the featured exhibitor.
The nest of tables is identified as Style No. 1576 with additional references for each table individually Style No.s !577, 1578, and 1579.
The McArthur nests of tables from 1936 on have their tops fastened to their bases by tiny screws from underneath through triangular aluminum pods as photographed in the Warren McArthur catalog published at the time of the American Institute of Architects exhibition of his furniture.
The use of double sided bakelite for this nest of tables is also different from the single sided bakelite used in the construction of the later Warren McArthur aluminum nests of tables.

The tables measure:
13" W. !6' L. 20" H.
10" W. 13"L.19" H.
8" W. 11. L. 18" H.
The tables are in good condition. The Bakelite tops have issues from 85 years of use the underside can be reversed making them them near mint.
The frames show wear consistent with age but no structural damage..
There were 15 pieces commissioned for this terrace :
A slat back sofa, a pair of Arizona Biltmore lounge chairs with a single ottoman,a pair of Light Lounges, a pair of armchairs, a pair of smoking stands, a library table, a side table, and this nest of 3 tables.
One of the smoking stands from this commission was gifted to the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	United States, New York
Period:	1920-1949
Materials:	Bakelite on stainless steel
Condition:	Good. Wear consistent with age.
Creation Date:	1934/35
Number of Pieces:	2-3
Styles / Movements:	Bauhaus, Art Deco, Minimalist
Incollect Reference #:	244658