Key facts

Product:
Dining chairs, set of ten
Manufacturer:
Wright
Architonic ID:
4106344
Country:
United States
Category:
Furnishings

Product description

Lacquered burl maple, leather
22.5"w x 22.5"d x 37"h
Provenance:
Samuel R. and Marie Louise Rosenthal, Highland Park, Illinois

Samuel Marx was a designer, architect and art collector whose interdisciplinary interests inspired each to their creative limits. Although working in the age of mechanical production, Marx valued handcrafted furniture with attentive detailing that was luxurious and distinguished. His European sensibility further differentiated Marx from other designers in the Midwest.
Determined to work with only the best materials and processes, he found a valuable partnership with William J. Quigley and his custom furniture company. Also a man of many trades, Quigley was attuned to traditional craft methods as well as modern styles. Together they experimented with surfaces and textures, leading to many of the unique lacquering techniques used on Marx's furniture. Marx primarily designed furniture for exclusive commissions and specific interiors in mind, making each collection unique.
The following eleven lots were designed by Samuel Marx for Samuel R. and Marie Louise Rosenthal, patrons of the arts and benefactors of The Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, the Newberry Library, the University of Chicago Library, and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The collection was custom designed in 1937 for the interiors of the dining room and living room in their Highland Park home designed by Ernest Grunsfeld. The furniture represents Marx's classic style and design, with a neutral coloration that accentuates the fine lines and excellent proportions of his work. The variety of textures and surfaces compliment one another and the pieces offer a range of creative interpretations on traditional forms. A rare collection of Marx designs and accessories sold by the original owners.