Hello everyone, and thank you for your service,
My wife and I bought 4 tubular chrome art deco-style chairs (see pictures) from the site of an abandoned office building in St. Louis around 20 years ago, and we've had them ever since.
My wife, who has a rather keen eye for such things, is convinced that they hold some degree of historical\design\architectural significance, but I've never been able to identify them. Through google searching I've found similar chairs associated with names like Kem Weber, Mies Vonder Rohe and Wolfgang Hoffmann, but I've never found the exact chair and I've been unsuccessful in determining whether our chairs are vintage "diamonds in the rough" or simply knockoffs from some place like Sears.
I've uploaded two pictures of one of the four chairs, one with the original cushions in place (not the original fabric), and one without. The original cushion covering was a pea soup green vinyl material. Although I would describe the chrome as being in good condition for its age, there are some rust spots around the legs at the back (see 3rd picture). I think this would come off with some chrome polish and elbow grease, but I couldn't swear to it. Also, one of the arms on one of the chairs does not mount securely because the threads into which the fastening screw attaches appears to be stripped. There is no problem with the other arm of this chair, or with any of the arms on the other 3 chairs.
I would be forever grateful to anyone who can identify these chairs and assign an estimated market value to them. If you are interested in buying them, we are open to offers. Thanks in advance for your reply, and thanks again for this wonderful service.
J. Scott
Re: Tubular chrome lounge chairs (set of 4)
Hello Mr Scott
i was searching google and found your pics of the chairs,i was wondering if u wanted to sell them or if u already had. My wife and I have a 2 cushion luv seat that match the chairs u have pictured,that we are interested in selling. The luvseat came out of her grand fathers dr. office. he bought them new but we are not for sure what yr they were perchased.The cushions would need to be recovered.the cushion is good but the covers are leather or vinyl?
P.S. im not sure when this was posted but i figured id give it a try.....
Re: Tubular chrome lounge chairs (set of 4)
Saw your item while searching to find out anything about my own chair. The photo you posted does not show any upholstery, but the frame looks identical. Now, what I know. My chair has two cushions, about 5” thick, green vinyl (I think vinyl) with 3 brass colored air vents at the bottom of each. One cushion still has the original manufacture label. Says it was made in St. Louis by the American Fixture & Manufacturing Company. Says it is Chromcraft, so that makes it after the 1939 name change. Wife remembers the chair belonging to her grandfather who was in the hotel business at one time back in the 40’s. There appears to be holes in the bottom of the chrome along the bottom rails which my have held some sort of button to protect the floor. Yours and mine are the only frames I have found that match.