Armchair 1894 - 1896

Curator: This is an "Armchair" by David Wolcott Kendall, crafted between 1894 and 1896. Its current home is here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Well, it strikes me as utterly functional. There’s a certain rigidity, almost severity, to the geometry that underpins its design. Curator: Note how Kendall, working within the Arts and Crafts movement, clearly values structure. Observe the stark lines, the emphasis on right angles, creating a network of interconnecting support and planes. Editor: Right, and consider the means of construction. Wood carving and the weaving for the seat—honest labor, evident craftsmanship that screams against the industrial tide. It celebrates the dignity of labor, I suppose. Curator: Indeed. But the aesthetic choice shouldn't be overlooked. The chair achieves a certain Platonic ideal of 'chair-ness' without ornamentation. Editor: I’d argue the cane work introduces a level of tactility—a conscious engagement with both visual and haptic qualities through contrasting texture against the hardness of the wood. Curator: From a structural perspective, there's an articulation of load-bearing and supporting elements. The seat’s weight seems visibly distributed across the rigid frame, an honest statement about the interplay between force and resistance. Editor: True, and Kendall highlights the process by showcasing the raw wood and carving details. Each mortise and tenon joint tells a story of deliberate handwork, championing a pre-industrial mindset amidst modernization. It suggests a longing for a more holistic production approach. Curator: Precisely. There is also a conceptual rejection of mass production in favor of handcrafted authenticity. Editor: In essence, both form and construction unite, pushing the statement for integrating ethics with art in our constructed spaces. Curator: It highlights the essence of art and design intersecting—revealing a functional beauty that has transcended eras. Editor: Ultimately, this "Armchair" is more than a mere object of function, its an advocacy statement about labor and design’s vital interplay.