Armchair by Cherner
designed by Norman Cherner
A midcentury icon found in design collections worldwide, the 1958 molded plywood armchair by Norman Cherner is now available to a new generation of furniture collectors. Reissued in exacting detail from the original drawings and molds, the armchair combines the best of both molded plywood and solid bent wood construction.
- Like the original, made entirely in the U.S.A.
- Finishes available: classic walnut, natural walnut, clear beech, 'Stella' Orange, ebony, white, red gum and any combination of finishes
- Custom finishes available
- Available with upholstered seat pads.
- Dimensions: 31.5" h x 26.5" w x 21.5" d
Cherner products have been specified for commercial, institutional and residential environments since 1992. The Cherner Chair Company works closely with architects, designers and furniture collectors to provide custom finishes, review upholstery options, or help select products from our classic finishes and Spinneybeck leather options.
The Cherner Armchair is a classic piece of mid-century design, contemporary with the pioneering molded plywood work of Charles and Ray Eames. The Cherner Armchair brings exquisite design and fine materials into a bold, swashbuckling form. The flowing armrests on the chair are surprising and delightful even today, 50 years after they were first debuted. They are also a wonder of engineering from that time period - to be able to bend wood so easily, so flawlessly, so sublimely to fit a design was unheard of.
The Cherner Armchair has lasted over the many decades since its debut because it's beautiful, classic, whimsical, and technically accomplished. It took a new idea, that of molded plywood, and took it to a place not yet imagined or even anticipated. The thin, lithe strips of wood that form the armrests of the chair are amazingly strong as well as attractive and complementary to the rest of the chair. The back of the chair is elegantly curved, and does a lot with not much material at all. The unique and beguiling shape of the chair back is the second most striking design feature, and it fits in perfectly with the aesthetic established by the free-flowing armrests. Exceeding narrow at the small of the back but spreading quickly at the top to support your shoulders, it's a winning and impressive design.
The process of molding plywood requires lots of heat and energy, but the products produced can't be weakened by the bending and molding. Conquering this problem is one of the great furniture making achievements in modern times. The process has leds to dozens of classic chairs and pieces of furniture, of which the Cherner Armchair is one of the best and brightest.
The seat of the chair falls off a bit at the front, creating a waterfall effect that makes sitting more comfortable and takes pressure off of your thighs. The legs of the chair are molded plywood as well, and give the whole piece a finished, complete quality.
The total effect is classical in an almost ancient sense - the amazing lines and curves of the design, combined with the unlikely and alchemic molding of plywood to create something truly beautiful, make it seem like a chair pre-ordained or discovered, rather than one that was simply built. It's a magnifiscent piece, and it would be the jewel of any collection lucky enough to snag it. Get one for your home or office today!
The Cherner Armchair is part of the Top 10 List Furniture that Would Confuse Your Grandmother.
Molded plywood and solid bentwood construction
Dimensions:
Overall: 31.5" h x 26.5" w x 21.5" d
Seat height: 18"
Even with an absolute classic like the Cherner Amrchair, we've come up with lots of exciting customization options. In this case, the wood veneer, the outward facing "cloak" of the piece, is up to you to choose. We've collected up to 9 options, each of which combines beauty and originality into a powerful combination, and each of which bring their own unique essence to your chair.
The standard for the Cherner Armchair, in terms of veneer, is Natural Beech. Natural Beech gives the chair an understated veneer, focusing the eye on the amazing curves of the chair. At the same time the Natural Beech contributes to a clean, straight-from-the-woods look that keeps the chair in that exciting sense of ripped-from-nature yet impossibly formed look.
Another popular option is Ebony Lacquer, which gives the chair a completely different look. The Ebony Lacquer finish gives an impression of sleekness, and punches up even more the otherworldy look of the design. Other options include Classic Walnut, Natural Walnut, White Lacquer, Classic Ebony, and Red Gum. You can also mix and match some of the veneers for a truly original look that draws inspiration from several sources. No matter which choice you make, you'll be receiving a gorgeous, classic chair that's all your own, in more ways than one.
