September 16, 2022 – January 7, 2023

“Successful Seating,” an international survey of outstanding wood chair designs, will be on display at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, in Rockport, ME, from September 16, 2022 through January 7, 2023.

The show’s curator is Peter Korn, who founded the Center and has been an impassioned chair maker for almost fifty years. It presents 16 chairs by 14 designers from seven countries, all of which are currently in production. These range from classics such as Michael Thonet’s #14 (first introduced in 1859) and Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair (1949), to recent introductions such as Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Osso Chair (2019) and Jasper Morrison’s Iso-Lounge (2021).

“It is beyond challenging to come up with a chair that succeeds on all levels. Inevitably, there are tradeoffs between comfort, beauty, strength, durability, portability, and affordability,” says Korn. “These chairs show what great design looks like when it needs to be commercially viable.”

The chairs in “Successful Seating” include Hans Sandgren Jakobsen’s Elegance for manufacturer Asahi Wood, Jakob Berg’s Oslo stackable for Brayton, David Ericsson’s Petite and Madonna for Gärsnäs, Folke Pälsson’s J77 for Hay, Simon Pengelly’s Theo for New Design Group, Barber & Osgerby’s Ballot and Shell for Isokon Plus, Jasper Morrison’s Iso-Lounge for Isokon Plus, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Osso for Mattiazzi, Tom Moser’s Continuous Arm for Thos. Moser, and Michael Thonet’s No. 14 café chair, manufactured by TON. In addition, there are four classics from retailer Design Within Reach: Charles and Ray Eame’s DCM; Gio Ponti’s Leggera; Niels Otto Moller’s Model 78; and Hans Wegner’s Wishbone.

Barber & Osgerby | UK. Ballot Chair, 2017. Solid oak, clear lacquer. 30.5" x 19" x 19".

Barber & Osgerby

for Isokon+
Barber & Osgerby | UK. Ballot Chair, 2017. Solid oak, clear lacquer. 30.5" x 19" x 19".

Barber & Osgerby

for Isokon+
Barber & Osgerby | UK. Shell Chair, 2001. Birch, clear lacquer. 31" x 17" x 18".

Barber & Osgerby

for Isokon+
Barber & Osgerby | UK. Shell Chair, 2001. Birch, clear lacquer. 31" x 17" x 18".

Barber & Osgerby

for Isokon+
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec | France. Osso Chair, 2011. Oak. 30.5" x 16.5" x 19".

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

for Mattiazzi
Charles & Ray Eames | USA. DCM Chair, 1946. Molded plywood, steel. 30" x 19.5" x 19.5".

Charles & Ray Eames

for Herman Miller & DWR
Charles & Ray Eames | USA. DCM Chair, 1946. Molded plywood, steel. 30" x 19.5" x 19.5".

Charles & Ray Eames

for Herman Miller & DWR
David Ericsson | Sweden. Madonna Chair, 2015. Natural beech. 33" x 17.5" x 18.5".

David Ericsson

for Garsnas
David Ericsson | Sweden. Madonna Chair, 2015. Natural beech. 33" x 17.5" x 18.5".

David Ericsson

for Garsnas
David Ericsson | Sweden. Petite Chair, 2018. Beech. 31" x 17" x 18".

David Ericsson

for Garsnas
David Ericsson | Sweden. Petite Chair, 2018. Beech. 31" x 17" x 18".

David Ericsson

for Garsnas
Hans Sandgren Jakobsen | Denmark. Elegance Chair, 2020. Ash, polyester cord. 31" x 17" x 18.5".

Hans Sandgren Jakobsen

for Asahi Wood
Jasper Morrison | UK. Iso-Lounge Chair, 2021. Oak. 28.5" x 17.5" x 18".

Jasper Morrison

for Isokon+
Jasper Morrison | UK. Iso-Lounge Chair, 2021. Oak. 28.5" x 17.5" x 18".

Jasper Morrison

for Isokon+
Tom Moser | USA. Continuous Arm Chair, 2017. Cherry, ash. 41" x 24" x 24".

Tom Moser

for Thos. Moser
Tom Moser | USA. Continuous Arm Chair, 2017. Cherry, ash. 41" x 24" x 24".

Tom Moser

for Thos. Moser
Folke Palsson | Denmark. J77 Chair, 1960s. Solid beech, moulded beech plywood, black lacquer. 31" x 17" x 17".

Folke Palsson

for Hay