For years designer Russell Woodard’s midcentury mesh wire chairs were out of production, the province of in-the-know collectors who would pick them up at yard sales and vintage shops. (An original chair, dated 1956, is in the Cooper-Hewitt museum’s permanent collection.)
In 2015, Woodard Furniture reintroduced the Sculptura collection (now available at Design Within Reach). Since then we’ve been seeing a host of remarkably similar designs (with slightly different proportions) Which chair would you choose?
Above: Architect Steven Harris and landscape designer Lucien Rees Roberts have been collecting vintage Woodard chairs for years, giving them a home on their thyme terrace in Kinderhook, New York. Photograph by Matthew Williams.
High
Above: A reissue of the original Russell Woodard design, a molded Sculptura Occasional Chair made of powder-coated iron is 33.5 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 27.5 inches deep; $795 at Design Within Reach.
“This collection is handcrafted of iron wire mesh that evokes wicker furniture, molded to cradle the contours of the human form,” notes Design Within Reach. “All pieces are treated with rust inhibitors to withstand the elements, making them suitable for use indoors and out.”
Low
Above: A Modern Wire Chair made of powder-coated metal is suitable for covered outdoor use; currently on sale for $319 from Rejuvenation.
Vintage 1950s
Above: A set of 4 vintage Sculptura Chairs is $2,000 at 1stdibs.
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