Frankie Chair
JMA renovated a hotel on 57th Street between Park Avenue and Lexington in New York City. The building was originally for female artists, intellectuals and executives seeking an alternative to traditional women’s boarding houses in the flapper era by Mr. Blum, an Upper East Side fashion designer.
The design of the Frankie and Johnny wingback or "ear" chairs, was inspired by the blues ballad Frankie and Johnny popular when Mr. Blum's building was first built in the 1920s. The tune has been covered by Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, and Taj Mahal – to name a few.
The chairs orbited a lobby fireplace. "Wingback" or “ear chairs” were originally designed to collect the heat generated by the fireplace for its occupant.
PROCESS + MATERIALS
The artist hand-carved the forms using mixed media. The forms were then molded and cast in Kevlar and glass reinforced, integrally colored, non-combustible chocolate colored resin. They were then upholstered in leather. All work was performed within 3 miles of the artist's studio in Chicago.
DIMENSIONS
H 46 in. x W 36 in. x D 28 in.
H 116.84 cm x W 91.44 cm x D 71.12 cm
VARIATIONS
Please inquire for current options available.
DATE OF DESIGN/MANUFACTURE
2007/2019
CREDITS
Photos with white backgrounds are courtesy of Wright Auctions.
Doug Snower took the photos of Hotel 57.
The watercolor paintings and drawings were prepared by the artist as studies for the seating.
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