It’s happened to all of us. As the last empty seat at a holiday party gets snagged we are doomed to standing for the rest of the night on legs weary from holiday shopping, longingly gazing at our seated companions. Awkwardly leaning against the doorframe, we are forced to say, “Oh, no really, I prefer to stand anyway. It’s no problem.” The truth? Most of us need more guest seating for holiday gatherings, and the following roundup features pieces that look just as good lined up along guest room walls or positioned as design objects during the rest of the year.
1. These Mexican Colonial chairs have great panache – that certain touch that can inspire an entire room. Dating to the early 20th century, these chairs from dealer Vintage Views Consignment & Consulting sport new rush seats and original antiqued paint. Their profile is deep and low, perfect for lounging, measuring 37 inches high, 23 wide, and 24 deep. We love how they look paired up side by side, poised for catching up with those old friends you only see on special occasions or your old roommate’s holiday party. A splash of spirits and you’re set for the night. Early California Antiques through VandM.com at http://vandm.com/early_california_antiques, (323) 953-8330 or (310) 989-1877.
2. Danish architect and industrial designer Peter Karpf designed this molded-plywood NXT stacking chair for Swedese Mobler in the 1990s. The sleek stacking seat with plastic runners counts among the three commercial designs in Karpf’s Voxia collection, a series first developed in the ‘60s from very thin layers of plywood that, fused together, are quite strong. Today the collection is produced by Lform in Sweden. Ask about the dealer’s additional NXT chair in a different stain and an Oto chair from the same collection. Vintage Views Consignment & Consulting through VandM.com at http://vandm.com/VintageViews, (201) 232-4280.
3. Nothing can quite sooth the nerves of an anxious guest like a comforting rocking chair. Dealer E+L Alexandria brings us this one by David Ebner who has been crafting furniture by hand for nearly 40 years. The gorgeous, organic form lends itself to a very comfortable seat, not to mention you can brag that Ebner’s furniture graces a long list of museum collections: the Smithsonian Institute; American Craft Museum; High Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the Art Institute of Chicago. E+L Alexandria Fine and Decorative Arts through VandM.com at http://vandm.com/ELAlexandria, (727) 742-2709.
4. These look incredibly comfortable. Dealer Braswell Galleries offers a pair of carved Italian oak armchairs. Sporting 21 1/2 –inch-deep scrolled arms and 43 and ¾-inch-high atrium-form backs, these just might be the favorite seat of the night. The beautiful, brass-tacked and flame-stitched upholstery on the roomy 30-inch-wide seats reminds me of Missoni – here’s hoping no one spills red wine on it. Braswell Galleries through Vandm.com at http://vandm.com/Braswell_Galleries, (203) 847-1234.
5. Sometimes you really need a conversation starter. This antique elk horn armchair is upholstered in camel suede and sports nail head trim along its 43-inch-high backrest and 32 ½-inch-wide seat. Playing into the recent woodsy/natural trend in interiors – remember all the faux horn light fixtures we’ve seen recently, not to mention those faux (and authentic) wall-mounted animal heads. We’d like to think the creature that gave his life for this whimsical chair lives on forever, providing endless remedies to awkward conversations between eccentric Aunt Nancy and clumsy co-worker Kevin. Braswell Galleries through Vandm.com at http://vandm.com/Braswell_Galleries, (203) 847-1234.
