Know Your Chairs: The Origami Chair by Frank Lloyd Wright

For this posting in our ongoing series Know Your Chairs, let's look at a very unique classic.

When the legendary architect and furniture designer Frank Lloyd Wright began building his Taliesin West compound, a winter home in warm Arizona for when things got too chilly at his primary Taliesin compound in Wisconsin, he naturally designed and furnished the interiors as well. And his Origami Chair first built in 1949 for the Garden Room has become a much sought after piece of furniture.

Officially titled the Taliesin1 chair and made from a single sheet of 4' x 8' laminated plywood, the armchair appears to be folded much like a piece of paper folded in the ancient Japanese style of origami. Here are the oirignals in situ at Taliesin West!

The chair was briefly in production for purchase by Italian furniture manufacturer Cassina in the 1950s, then reissued from 1986 to 1990 but fell out of favor as being too odd and avant garde. And now, I am happy to report, Cassina has brought the chairback once more with some slight modifications. They consulted original plans and drawings for the chair and removed the front "feet" for a cleaner look, and made the back recline at a greater angle for more comfort.

This classic can be configured with several different wood and upholstery choices and purchased at Cassina.com.

Happy designing!