Early Norman Cherner Side Chairs for Plycraft, Set of 6 — Rare "Bernardo" Label, Circa 1958–1963

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A genuine collector's find — 6 original Norman Cherner side chairs for Plycraft, spanning the most historically significant window of … Read more A genuine collector's find — 6 original Norman Cherner side chairs for Plycraft, spanning the most historically significant window of the design's production, with labels that tell the full story.

These are the real thing — six original first-generation Cherner side chairs for Plycraft, not the reproductions sold today at over $1,000 each. Sculpted molded plywood in walnut veneer with leather seats, structurally sound with a warm cohesive patina earned over six decades.

Nothing refinished, nothing reupholstered. The armless form is the most versatile expression of the design — equally at home at a dining table, a workspace, or a kitchen island.

Then there's the labels — and that's where it gets interesting.

If you know Cherner chairs, you know what the "Bernardo" label means. If you're new to the story: Norman Cherner designed this chair for Plycraft owner Paul Goldman in 1957, only to be told the project was cancelled — then discovered it in a Manhattan showroom being sold under a fictitious designer name: "Bernardo." Cherner sued and won in 1961, after which Plycraft was required to credit him by name. Chairs bearing the pre-lawsuit Bernardo label are among the rarest and most sought-after examples in mid-century American design.

One chair in this set has a fully legible "Designed by Bernardo" label. Two others bear Norman Cherner / Plycraft labels consistent with post-1961 production. The remaining three have partially obscured labels typical of age all consistent with authentic early manufacture. This set was acquired in 1984 as already-vintage examples from the original production period. See less