Frank Gehry (American, born 1929). <em>Side Chair, "Easy Edges,"</em> designed 1971; manufactured ca. 1982. Corrugated cardboard, pressed board, wood, 33 3/8 x 14 x 23 1/4 in. (84.8 x 35.6 x 59.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter, 83.108.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 83.108.1_view1_bw.jpg)

Frank Gehry (American, born 1929). Side Chair, "Easy Edges," designed 1971; manufactured ca. 1982. Corrugated cardboard, pressed board, wood, 33 3/8 x 14 x 23 1/4 in. (84.8 x 35.6 x 59.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter, 83.108.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 83.108.1_view1_bw.jpg)

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What can you tell me about 83.108.1?

That curvy chair is called "Easy Edges," and it was designed by the architect Frank Gehry. It's made from 27 layers of corrugated cardboard! Its sides are covered in thin pieces of wood.

Thanks, that's interesting.

What is this?

This is the Wiggle side chair, designed by Frank Gehry in 1972! It's made from a material Gehry developed called Edge Board, which consists of glued layers of corrugated cardboard running in alternating directions. Furniture made with this material is surprisingly sturdy and even has a noise-reducing effect when in a room! If you look closely, you can see the structure of the corrugated cardboard "wiggles", just like the overall form of the chair!

What's the name of this piece and how was it made?

This is the "Easy Edges," side chair designed by Frank Gehry in 1971 and manufactured in 1982.The chair was made from a single long piece of cardboard, with corrugated edges. You can see what the initial sheet would have been like by looking at the straight back of the chair.

That's why I noticed it!

It is very impressively made isn't it? The sheet was bent and curved into the shape of the chair from that single length of cardboard, and then a wooden dowel and shaped pressed board were used to hold the shape together!

Thank you!

Tell me more about this please.

This side chair is from the "Easy Edges" collection and was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry. He designed it in 1971, but this one was produced around 1982. The chair is mades of corrugated cardboard, pressed board, like particle board, and wood. It was formed from a single length of 27 layers of cross-laminated corrugated cardboard! Designs like this can be linked to the emergence of environmental movements at the time.

Was this designed by the same Frank Gehry that designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao?

Yes! It was designed by THE Frank Gehry! In fact, the “Easy Edges” furniture collection to which this chair belongs was largely responsible for Gehry’s rise to fame in the 1970’s!

Side Chair, "Easy Edges"

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

DESIGNER Frank Gehry, American, born 1929

MEDIUM Corrugated cardboard, pressed board, wood

Place Manufactured: United States

DATES designed 1971; manufactured ca. 1982

DIMENSIONS 33 3/8 x 14 x 23 1/4 in. (84.8 x 35.6 x 59.1 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS Unmarked

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 83.108.1

CREDIT LINE Gift of Paul F. Walter

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Chair formed from a single length of cross-laminated corrugated cardboard (27 layers); in profile a double S-curve, the upright back forming the beginning of the top S; the sides covered with a thin layer of pressed board; a wooden dowel serving as glide across rear of base. CONDITION: Contact areas (back, seat, calves, and heels) have wear. General wear to cardboard with many split edges and rough spots.

EXHIBITIONS

Realm of Marvels: Building Collections for the Future

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

CAPTION Frank Gehry (American, born 1929). Side Chair, "Easy Edges," designed 1971; manufactured ca. 1982. Corrugated cardboard, pressed board, wood, 33 3/8 x 14 x 23 1/4 in. (84.8 x 35.6 x 59.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter, 83.108.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 83.108.1_view1_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 83.108.1_view1_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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