Set of 4 Vintage McGuire Bamboo & Rattan Cracked-Ice Dining Armchairs by Elinor McGuire

Details

Description

A striking set of four vintage McGuire of San Francisco dining armchairs featuring the distinctive "cracked ice" back design created … Read more A striking set of four vintage McGuire of San Francisco dining armchairs featuring the distinctive "cracked ice" back design created by Elinor McGuire in 1968.

Each chair features a tall oval back filled with an intricate, irregular geometric lattice, creating the celebrated cracked-ice effect. Gracefully curved arms, bamboo and rattan construction, wrapped bindings, woven cane seats and stretcher bases give the chairs the sophisticated organic character associated with McGuire's California designs.

Included are custom fitted seat cushions in a lovely designer-quality floral textile that complements the warm rattan finish. Cushions are removable and could readily be recovered, giving a designer the option to completely customize the look.

The warm brown finish has developed an attractive natural patina that emphasizes the bamboo and rattan construction. The combination of organic materials and highly graphic backs makes the chairs remarkably versatile, equally suited to an organic modern dining room, sunroom or breakfast area as well as Chinoiserie, coastal, British Colonial and eclectic interiors.

All four retain McGuire San Francisco metal manufacturer's plates. The plates include McGuire copyright dates through 1978, providing a useful clue to the age of this particular set and indicating manufacture no earlier than the late 1970s. The cracked-ice chair design itself dates to 1968.

Dimensions, each:
37"H × 20.5"W × 18"D
Seat Height: 15" without cushion; approximately 18" with cushion

Condition:
Very good vintage condition with age-appropriate wear, including light surface marks, minor finish/patina loss, and surface wear at the feet. One chair has a small missing section of decorative bamboo/rattan within the openwork back, as shown in the detail photo. This is a localized cosmetic loss and does not affect the chair’s structural integrity or usability. Caned seats are intact, and all four chairs are sturdy and sound. Cushions show light vintage wear consistent with age. See less