Armchair from the SC Johnson Wax Administration Building, Racine, WI
Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959), designer
Steelcase, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, established 1912, manufacturer
Details
Title
Armchair from the SC Johnson Wax Administration Building, Racine, WI
Artist/Maker
Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959), designer
Steelcase, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, established 1912, manufacturer
Date
1936–1939
Medium
Enameled steel, walnut, and upholstery
Dimensions
34 1/2 x 23 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches
Credit
Purchase with funds from the Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment
Accession #
1984.371.2
Frank Lloyd Wright made this strikingly streamlined desk and chair for the S. C. Johnson & Son Administration Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Their curved shapes and Cherokee red color echo those of the building. With enameled steel frames, a cantilevered work surface, swinging rather than sliding drawers, and hinged, removable wastebaskets, the desk and chair are remarkable examples of Wright’s innovative design sensibility. Unfortunately for the workers using it, this original three-legged form of the chair, subsequently redesigned to include four legs, was notorious for tipping over.
Image Copyright
© (c) 2002 Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York