William Spratling 1940s Mexican Butaque Chair

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Description

This piece reeks of adventure. Visualize a seated Hemmingway cupping his Daiquiri and recalling his war correspondent days during the … Read more This piece reeks of adventure. Visualize a seated Hemmingway cupping his Daiquiri and recalling his war correspondent days during the Spanish Civil War. Crafted of solid sabino wood, original and patinated by life like Hemmingway, this is a "Butaque" chair by the American-born designer William Spratling. And it was produced in his workshops in Taxco, Mexico, primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. While Spratling is widely known as the "Father of Mexican Silver" for reviving the town's silver industry, he also designed furniture.
These chairs were handmade from local Mexican sabino wood (Mexican cypress) and thick leather. The sling seat is secured to the wooden frame with a series of brass or iron tacks, often arranged in a decorative pattern along the edges. Authentic Spratling pieces are often branded with his "WS" monogram cipher and the word "Taxco" on the reverse of the top crest rail, just as this one is.
This design simplified the butaque, a traditional Mexican and Spanish Colonial chair style, (also sometimes called a Campeche chair) characterized by its low-slung, curved profile. Spratling’s genius was to create a modern interpretation, simplifying both the form and ornamentation, thereby blending traditional designs with a modernist aesthetic. Which is why it will fit perfectly in your contemporary home, right by your guitar on stand.
Signature: Reverse, top crest rail (photo #5) See less