Chair
designed (1949)
Medium
mahogany plywood, wood, steel, rubber
Measurements
75.0 × 55.3 × 60.3 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2022
Gallery location
Mid 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Ray Komai was a Japanese-American designer whose work was influenced by his cultural and political experiences. He was among a number of notable Japanese-American designers, including Isamu Noguchi, who were imprisoned during World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. His practice encompassed graphic, industrial and interior design, with his moulded plywood Chair becoming one of his most widely recognised works. Its design reflects Komai’s interest in origami and the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames. The chair was exhibited in MoMA’s Good Design Award exhibition in 1950. This chair is thought to be an early, or possibly pre-production version, as the black lacquered wooden joint at the back was more commonly produced in metal.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
New York, New York, United States
Inscription
printed in ink on adhesive paper label under seat u.c.: J.G. FURNTIURE CO., INC. / 102 KANE STREET / BROOKLYN 2, N.Y.
Accession Number
2022.884
Department
International Decorative Arts