If Norman Cherner’s shapely, molded plywood chair looks eerily familiar that’s because you’ve seen it before: First immortalized by Norman Rockwell on a 1961 Saturday Evening Post cover, the now-classic wooden seat has become a staple in galleries and design museums worldwide.
The magic of the chair and its trend-bucking popularity is in the details of Cherner’s deceptively simple-looking design. The curvaceous wooden frame and lithe wooden armrests look like single pieces of wood, but each chair is the result of several unique manufacturing processes, each of which is still carried out today using Cherner’s original drawings and specifications.
Read on to discover the intriguing history of Cherner’s mid-century modern masterpiece and how it’s made.
Origins
Norman Cherner was born in New York City, and his flourishing design and architecture career revolved around the city. An avid follower of the Bauhaus tradition, he lectured at Columbia Teachers College and the Museum of Modern Art. At heart, Cherner was devoted to cost-efficiency and creating designs that were simultaneously beautiful and efficient. While he concentrated on furniture designs, he also drafted modular home concepts and published books like How to Build a House for Less Than $6,000.
Cherner’s legendary chair emerged in 1958 when the Massachusetts furniture manufacturer Plycraft commissioned him to design a molded-plywood chair. The commission came on the recommendation of Herman Miller’s design director George Nelson, whose earlier Plycraft-made “Pretzel chair” had proved too fragile and costly to produce at scale. Cherner was tasked with creating a sturdier, more practical successor.
“He did not anticipate that it would become a design icon,” says Benjamin Cherner. “When the chair went into production he was primarily involved in non-furniture projects: prefabricated housing, lighting design, glassware, graphic design and interior design.”
The seat vanished from production during the late 1970s, leading Cherner fans to view his work in design museums and galleries rather than in homes. In 1999, following their fathers’ death, Cherner’s sons launched The Cherner Chair Company to revive and produce their father’s designs in addition to new pieces fashioned by the family.
Production
Part of the Cherner Chair’s charm is its simplicity: Easy on the eyes, the chair’s flowing form creates intrigue while eschewing heavy materials, engravings, and details. But the chair’s fluid effortlessness belies the complex processes required to generate each piece of the chair.
“Other molded plywood chairs have a shell of uniform thickness,” explains Benjamin Cherner. “The Cherner Chair molded plywood shell is unique with tapering thicknesses from 13 plies at the slim throat to 5 plies at the shell extremities.”
Five layers of plywood surround the shell’s perimeter, while the seat back consists of 13 plies layered together. Each veneer is glued to its neighbors in a criss-cross pattern before the shell is placed in a high-temperature mold to set. After setting, the frame is trimmed with a precise digital router and finished by hand.
“Norman Cherner’s design style was born in the Bauhaus tradition of total design. He was interested in all aspects of the design world and how they fit together,” explains Benjamin Cherner. “The Cherner Chair pushed the boundaries of wood fabrication at the time. It is a design where these fabrication processes came together naturally and perfectly.”
Cherner Chair at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Shell | Molded plywood, 13 plies at throat tapering to 5 at extremities |
| Veneer | Criss-cross pattern, high-temperature mold-set |
| Legs | Laminated plywood, same-direction grain |
| Arm | Single piece of solid wood, 6+ ft, steam-bent; made by only 2 workshops worldwide |
| Finishing | Precise digital router + hand finishing |
| Maker | Cherner Chair Company, from Norman Cherner’s original drawings |
The Cherner Collection Today
The Cherner Chair Company continues to produce Norman Cherner’s original designs from his drawings and specifications, expanding the collection well beyond the iconic armchair and side chair. The Lumens selection includes stools, task chairs, and the sculptural Cherner Lounge Chair with its matching ottoman. The range also encompasses dining tables, coffee tables, and the Cherner Round Table, each piece demonstrating the same mastery of molded plywood and laminated wood construction that defines the chair. Together, these designs offer a comprehensive vocabulary for interiors rooted in mid-century craftsmanship and enduring form. Explore the full Cherner Chair Company collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Cherner chair?
Norman Cherner designed the chair in 1958. His sons later founded the Cherner Chair Company to continue producing his designs from the original drawings and specifications.
Is the Cherner chair the same as the Pretzel chair?
The two are related but distinct. The Pretzel chair, designed by George Nelson, preceded the Cherner chair and was also manufactured by Plycraft. When it proved too fragile and costly to produce, Plycraft commissioned Norman Cherner to design a sturdier, more practical molded-plywood alternative.
What is the Cherner chair made of?
The chair features a molded plywood shell with 13 plies at the slim throat tapering to 5 plies at the extremities. The legs are laminated plywood with the grain running in the same direction. The arm is steam-bent from a single piece of solid wood stretching over six feet in length.
Where is the Cherner chair made?
The Cherner Chair Company manufactures its collection in Connecticut, maintaining a focus on local production and sustainable materials sourcing.
How can I tell an authentic Cherner chair from a replica?
Authentic pieces are produced by the Cherner Chair Company using Norman Cherner’s original drawings and specifications. Lumens sources the authentic Cherner Chair Company collection directly.
