Armchair

1937–39

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
American, 1867–1959
Metal Office Furniture Company (now Steelcase, Inc.)
American, founded 1912
Grand Rapids, MI

When businessman H. F. Johnson Jr. set out to build new offices for the S. C. Johnson company in Racine, Wisconsin, he wanted “to get the greatest architect in the world.” To him, that was Frank Lloyd Wright, renowned for his designs based on the principles of nature that integrated exterior, interior, and furnishings. The curved forms and earth tones of this armchair and desk (1972.310) echo Wright’s architectural designs for the project, which included rounded brick buildings filled with columns that widened as they reached the ceiling. Although Wright was known for resisting changes to his designs, this three-legged chair proved unsteady and he altered later versions to have four feet.

Status: On View, Gallery 265
Department: Arts of the Americas

Artist: Frank Lloyd Wright
Title: Armchair
Place: Grand Rapids (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: c. 1937–1939
Medium: Steel and maple, with original upholstery (later laminated surface)
Dimensions: 85.7 × 60.3 × 54.6 cm (34 3/4 × 23 3/4 × 21 1/2 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Johnson Wax Company
Reference Number: 1972.311
Copyright: © 2018 Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Jennifer M. Downs, “ ‘The New Modern Feeling’: A Catalogue of the Collection,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 27, 2 (2001), 54–56, cat. 14.
Judith A. Barter, et al., American Modernism at the Art Institute of Chicago, From World War I to 1955 (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2009), cat. 77. 86.

Commissioned by S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., for the Johnson Wax Company, Racine, WI, 1937–39; Johnson Wax Company, Racine, WI, from 1937–39; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1972.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Suggested Terms

See all hours

On View

Date:

Artist:

About this artwork

Status

Department

Artist

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Medium

Dimensions

Credit Line

Reference Number

Copyright

Extended information about this artwork

Publication History

Provenance

Share

Explore Further

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Gallery actions

Image actions

Share