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Warren McArthur Stainless Steel Armchairs Style No. 1130 Au 1935/36 Unique Pair

Creator: Warren McArthur
Offered by: Appleton

Description
A pair of stainless steel armchairs by the Warren McArthur Corporation from the mid 1930s .

The armchairs are Style No. 1130AU reproduced on page 3 of the Warren McArthur Corporation Style Supplement Number One and are described as:
"It's spring upholstered seat, form fitting flexible back qualifies it to become an object of friendly personal attachment".

Union Carbide commissioned this pair of armchairs with 13 other McArthur pieces in stainless steel for the terrace of a summer home in Glen Cove N.Y..

This pair of armchairs is unique because of their stainless steel frames.

The construction of a stainless steel awning frame for the terrace was the reason for the commission of this unique group of furniture. Union carbide specified that the frames should be made from stainless steel instead of Warren McArthur's standard material anodized aluminum to emphasis the superior qualities of stainless steel in an outdoor installation .
The assembly and installation of the awning with a complete photographic documentation of the Warren McArthur furnishings were presented in an article in Union Carbide's journal on stainless steel Electromet published in November, 1936.

A single installation view from the same photo session was used by the Warren McArthur Corporation as the frontice photo of an advertising pamphlet they also published in 1936. 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..

The armchair frames are in good condition. The upholstery is worn out and torn but the foundations and the special McArthur supports are still intact which will make this a relatively straight forward reupholstery.

The frames show wear consistent with age but no structural damage..

There were 15 pieces commissioned for this terrace :
A slat back sofa, pair of Arizona Biltmore lounge chairs with a single ottoman, pair of Light Lounges,, a pair of smoking stands, a library table, a side table, a nest of 3 tables, and this pair of armchairs.
One of the smoking stands from this group was gifted to the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	United States, New York
Period:	1920-1949
Materials:	Stainless steel and upholstery
Condition:	Good. Upholstery worn out. The frames are in good condition.
Creation Date:	1935
Number of Pieces:	2-3
Styles / Movements:	Bauhaus, Art Deco, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	271382