There are chairs. And then, there are EXTRAORDINARY, iconic chairs such as THIS!! Designed by George Mulhauser for Plycraft, this fantastic lounge chair and ottoman are comprised of walnut bentwood shells or frames, lovely tan vinyl or faux leather, black painted shafts & 4 prong swivel & recline bases with walnut edges & chrome trim. Much like the style of Eames after his famous Herman Miller lounge chair, this mid-century modern “Mr. Chair” chair has gained a cult following in its own right for its well-crafted design and its exceptionally less expensive purchase value for those who still want to show appreciation for the iconic designs coming out of the 50’s and 60’s. Fun fact, the main difference between these lounge chairs and the Herman Miller Eames lounge chairs is the recline option. While both designs swivel, Mr. Eames decided that he discovered the “perfect sitting position,” so his chair design is “fixed” in that position. When you are as brilliant as Charles Eames and he tells you what position to sit in, you sit in it!! LOL… just kidding, the reputation of his work speaks for itself! But back to our Mr. Chair… It holds a fun fact of its own! Back in the 50’s, furniture manufacturers were marketing the concept of chairs for “him” and “her” or Mr. & Mrs., which was based on a dated stereotype of men having larger and more substantial proportions than their female partner. Way to start a fight Mr. & Mrs. chairs!! Hahaha… Needless to say, times have changed!! This chair and ottoman are full of comfort, versatility, impeccable style, and the set is going to be stunning in any room that needs a splash of mid-century modern magnificence. Prop your feet up and lean back into an oh-so-stylish and restful bliss! (We promise not to tell Mr. Eames!) LOL!!
George Mulhauser graduated from Pratt University in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Design. He quickly established himself as a staff designer in the early days of the George Nelson Studio. One of the first chairs he designed for George Nelson at Herman Miller was the iconic “Coconut Chair.” Mr. Mulhauser designed for many recognized companies including Paul McCobb, Design Institute of America, Directional, Stendig, Overman, Singer, Herman Miller, and Plycraft. The second most iconic chair designed by Mr. Mulhauser was “The Mr. Chair” which was the first reclining lounge chair designed from a single sheet of molded plywood. Mr. Chair first debuted in the International Home Furnishings Market in Chicago in 1960. The Mr. Chair series eventually became a brand marketed by Directional Industries. He participated in the design development of Paul McCobb’s faceted fiberglass chair through Directional and a slimline folding chair for Mesberg and featured in Arts & Architecture Magazine in 1960. While the Mr. Chair line was the most successful design for Plycraft however, Mr. Mulhauser had other creations with notable reputation such as the “Fancy Free” collection in 1966. George Mulhauser passed away in 2002 leaving behind an incredible legacy of exemplary furniture design.
Plycraft was initially known for making boats in the early 1950’s. They were also briefly subcontracted by Herman Miller to manufacture the George Nelson Office’s Pretzel Chair attributed to John Pile in walnut ply. This arrangement only lasted from 1957 to 1958, after which the agreement terminated with only 100 chairs ultimately produced, according to the George Nelson Foundation’s website. According to furniture historian Jonathan J. Goldstein, B. G. Mesberg brought George Mulhauser together with Plycraft. At the time, Plycraft was eager to break into furniture, in their own right, utilizing their own technology. They became the bent plywood manufacturer for Directional with Mulhauser designing a whole line for Plycraft around 1959. The Mr. Chair was their first truly mass-produced (and successful) piece of furniture. While the Mr. Chair line was undeniably Plycraft’s most successful chair, other designs by Mulhauser made it onto the showroom floor such as the “Fancy Free” collection which was a more delicate design. -Trystcraft Vintage Modern Design.
This Mr. Chair and ottoman by George Mulhauser for Plycraft is incredibly comfortable, very versatile, and has an iconic reputation with a timeless design that you are sure to love for years to come! You simply MUST have them! Make them YOURS!!
