Rare work stool produced by Chromcraft Corporation in 1944, an authentic testimony of American industrial design in the postwar period.
This model represents a refined functional and stylistic evolution of the stool designed by Gio Ponti for the Montecatini offices in 1938, here reinterpreted in an American context with a more technical, essential approach oriented toward serial production.
Originally conceived for laboratories, technical environments, and workshops, the stool combines structural solidity, ergonomics, and functional design.
The structure features a robust five-star base in black-painted cast iron, mounted on original swivel casters, ensuring excellent stability and mobility.
The seat and backrest are padded and upholstered in original period vinyl in a deep burgundy tone, preserved in very good condition and displaying a beautiful age patina, with wear marks consistent with professional use that enhance its authentic character.
The screw-based mechanical system allows height adjustment, while the backrest is supported by a curved metal structure with a reclining mechanism, emphasizing the engineering-driven nature of the design. Compact proportions and a technical character make this piece ideal not only as a work chair but also as a sculptural element for industrial or vintage-style interiors.
Although produced by Chromcraft, this stool shares many structural and aesthetic features with the celebrated model manufactured by Emeco in the same years, featured on the cover of the book A Taxonomy of Office Chairs by Jonathan Olivares. Both models belong to the same functionalist design genealogy, defined by a shared industrial language in which form and function coincide in a direct and essential manner.
Sourced from a military base, the stool is in excellent overall condition, with minor signs of age that do not compromise functionality or aesthetics; on the contrary, they offer tangible evidence of the more than 80 years embodied in this remarkable object.
Product Name: Chromcraft Corporation stool USA 1944
Designer: Chromcraft Corporation
Year of Design: 1944
Style: American postwar industrial design
Primary Materials: Black-painted cast iron, metal, original padded vinyl
Distinctive Design: Five-star base on swivel casters, curved backrest with reclining structure, screw system for height adjustment, original burgundy vinyl with period patina
Dimensions: Height 88cm | Width 45cm | Depth 50cm | Seat height 45cm
Comfort: Padded and adjustable seat and backrest, designed to provide ergonomics and support during long working sessions
Typical Use: Originally for laboratories, workshops, and technical environments; today also ideal as an industrial or vintage interior statement piece
Design Icon: Rare testimony of American industrial design; closely related to the Emeco model featured in A Taxonomy of Office Chairs by Jonathan Olivares
Versatility: Suitable both as an operational chair and as a sculptural element for interiors with strong character
Current Condition: Excellent overall condition with signs of use consistent with age; fully functional and stable
Additional Notes: Please note that this item is in good vintage condition. Minor signs of age may be present, which do not affect its functionality. We invite you to consider these characteristics before purchasing.