The attached image is from the cover of a French auction catalog currently listed on e-bay.{removed broken image}
It appears to be a modernistic creation inspired by the classic Morris chair.
Comments? Other examples of this kind of adaptation?

Le Peeuu

i'm with you mrm, it does nothing for me.

Don't hold back guys...

It's got 'eye appeal' and reflects an evolution of design. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Morris chair to reflect modernism however. Many types of 'modern' design furniture can be linked to the Arts and Crafts era, and parallel and not so parallel movements in Europe - Art Deco, Industrial, even Danish modern to a degree - new materials but A&C aesthetics - simple, functional, solid. Modernism is the big thing now. The garage sale 30s to 60s junk of several years ago is now the hot collectable field. It's interesting to see dealers on the net who carry Mission/A&C and modern stuff, at the same time. Auction houses like Treadway have regular mixed sales of Mission/A&C and more modern stuff. The rules for dealers at big shows keep getting revised as well, nothing newer than art deco a few years ago but now it's nothing newer than the 50's. I like Modernism to a degree but I prefer A&C because it will always have an organic element and connection with nature while more modern stuff leaves me feeling cold somehow - materials detached from nature, no texture, no warmth, stark contrast, that kind of thing.

Not Morris chairs, but here's a graphic I found ages ago, of the history of rocking chairs (available as a full size poster) - pretty neat, you can pick out the A&C section and see modern as well as much older designs.

if i had to venture a guess at maker, i would guess thonet alone or one of the joint ventures with hoffman or kammerer.

having stong modernist backgroud, i like the chair, definitely euro influence/origin.

it would look great on the deck of a moderne ocean steamer...

Don's mention of Hoffman in conncection with the chair is interesting. Coincidentally, and also on e-bay (again in the french area) is a side table that the seller suggests might be from Hoffman:
{removed broken link}
A couple of pics follow.

The table is not truly an A&C piece but it seems sufficiently close in spirit that it would feel at home in an A&C room

A second view of the "Hoffman table"

First off - I've changed the topic title to broaden the scope into our 'A&C and Modernism' discussion.

Hoffman table - close in spirit - definately.

There's no reason not to mix other styles with A&C and despite my earlier comments I would prefer to mix modern rather than older - after all A&C is often called the start of the 'modern movement' in broad terms.

On that note, here's a coffee table I have which is a nice blend of old and new - solid oak but 'modern' design yet has a nice cross-stretcher base that tips the hat a bit to A&C. The other cool thing about it is that there was no such thing as a period coffe table from A&C times, so if you want to add a coffee table to an A&C room you need a phony repro or something in another style. Let me turn the tables on Don - any maker ideas on this one, or is it just 'generic modern' ???. Note it has been refinished. There is clear evidence of a former black spray job under the top, which may or may not be original (solid black is a known mod finish, but maybe someone wanted the oak more, who knows, as you see it is as I found it).

IMO... I belive in the first photo of the envisioned "morris chair" is a classic lesson in style. It would be a very boring world without differences in style. Just the reason for what influenced mission furniture was the distaste in the ornate and busy Victorian style. I am not the biggest fan of mission furniture due to it's large square and straight back style- especially in certain dining room sets where the seat should be the most comfortable chair in the house, as it is a place we all use on a daily basis. I think this table says Danish Modern, a style in my mind that compliments well the mission and arts and crafts styles- as well as early Japanese and Asian styles which have provenence in Mission design. Check out this dining table and chairs made in the mid 1970's, Conant Ball in Gardiner MA, designed by Russell somebody or somebody Russell(forgot his name but a big designer with many ties to mission/arts and crafts) which has some of the most comfortable chairs to sit and have a dinner. Laminated seat backs, bow tie insets, a tresle table and pegged joints all over the chairs. I wanted to toss this when I got it from my fathers estate until I brought it into my new house from my condo 4 years ago. It has a matching buffet. See how all our tastes change as we get older. Or do we get wiser???

Russell White maybe.

Neat table and chairs - neat to see the butterfly or bow tie joints; used in early Gus pieces and used alot by George Nakashima in his mod pieces. Is it teak???

Russell Wright, did much in furniture and pottery

Getting back to the original message and the chair shown...here's the chair identified as a Hoffman and currently showing in the V&A International Arts & Crafts Exhibition in San Francisco...(mid page, 2nd link, click on it for a close up thingy)

http://www.deyoungmuseum.org/deyoung/index.asp

boy, am i good or what....