Set of Two John Vesey Hand-Painted Iron and Steel Garden Chairs with Fruits

This set of two garden chairs in forged iron and sheet steel, were designed by John Vesey circa 1950 in New York City, and then hand-crafted in the Bronx, New York by the bespoke company Beacon Artisans. The trompe-l'oeil wooden barrels of the back-splats are each filled with fruit - pears in one, apples in the other. The seats look like the tops of tree stumps, one with a whole pear resting on it, the other with an apple partially peeled and with a paring knife next to it. The half-circle crest rails are attached to the stiles by welded rivets, while the front stretchers are arched to reflect the crest rails. The legs end in penny feet. The chairs are sturdy. The two are prime examples of the sophisticated imagination of John Vesey, a successful New York City dealer in French antiques before he became a furniture designer. He was a great success as a furniture designer. He had a large following among the Jet Set and leading interior decorators of the day. He re-thought antique styles and applied them to new, trendy forms mostly in metal and paint and of high quality workmanship. His designs have become collectible. His furniture fits easily into traditional as well as modern decors. The conditon of this set of two patio chairs is good for 70-year-old outdoor furniture. There is wear on the paint as seen in the photographs, and there is normal pitting on the iron surface of the legs and stretchers. These signs of wear and age attest to the authenticity of the chairs, and add the charm of time and history to them. As you can see in the photographs, they are pleasing to the eye and will add a sense of whimsy, taste, and artistic aesthetic to your home.
The measurements below are for one chair, each weighing 24 pounds. One can be upended on the other for a more compact shipping size.