500 Chairs

These chairs aren’t made just for sitting down! They’re pieces of art meant to delight the eyes, stretch the imagination, and occasionally tickle the fancy. From classic forms to groundbreaking creations from modern innovators, this newest entry in the 500 series presents a dazzling collection of contemporary chairs from today’s leading furniture makers. Internationally recognized furniture designer Craig Nutt has selected the breathtaking examples—by such respected names as Sam Maloof (a walnut rocking chair), Garry Knox Bennett (two ladderback chairs), and Andrew Muggleton (his “Balustrade Chaise”)—and they’re breathtaking. Judy Kensley McKie contributes a cool “Monkey Chair” in walnut and bronze, with arms shaped like these playful animals. And Gord Peteran’s wittily named “Electric Chair” comes in tubular steel…and features a lightbulb!

Craig Nutt’s imaginative furniture and sculptures are found in many major museum collections, including the Renwick Gallery, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Columbus Museum, and the Birmingham Museum of Art. He serves on the Advisory Board of The Furniture Society and has taught at numerous institutions, including the Penland School of Craft. Craig’s many honors include artists’ fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts/Southern Arts Federation, the University of Alabama’s Alumnus Arts Award, and the Alabama Governor’s Arts Award.

 

"If you think you've seen all that can be done in designing chairs, think again. Lark Books' 500 series steps into the furniture world with gallery photos of everything from the bizarre to the the purposely mundane in human seating...A reader can skim the book for amusement, but you'd miss a lot if you didn't examine the photos closely.... Selected by studio furniture maker and sculptor Craig Nutt, these 500 pieces are an amazing representation of the creativity and originality of the world's most innovative builders."--WoodCentral.com

"As a maker of chairs and a fan of the form, I pick up most every book I find with the word 'chair' in the title:..Lark’s new 500 Chairs is perhaps my favorite.Part of Lark Books’ beautifully presented 500 Series...500 Chairs opens with a brief but thoughtful essay on chairs by Craig Nutt. Then it showcases chairs in a clean format: color photos, titles, dimensions, maker, and, for the most part, little commentary. Whether your tastes lean toward the traditional or contemporary, functional work or artistic interpretations, you’re likely to find inspiration in this book."--"Editors Blog" at FineWoodworking.com

"This visually packed tome [is] the perfect eye candy for any furniture aficionado." --AmericanStyle magazine