writing arm (- and drop leaf) chair

writing arm (- and drop leaf) chair. these classic chair was first developed with an arm that has been widened for writing ..........................................

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TRANSFORMER CHAIRS
(chairs that adapt to reading / writing / studying purposes)

© designboom

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writing arm (- and drop leaf) chair

these classic chair was first developed with an arm that has been widened for writing and then with an fixed large paddle-shaped writing surface on one side. the writing surface could be positioned on either the left or right hand side of the seat. the paddle is attached in one of three ways: - with the writing surface substituted for the regular arm; - with the paddle attached over the original arm; - or with the chair and arm designed and constructed as a writing-arm chair from inception. many 18th-century businessmen and writers couldn’t afford full desks but still needed a place for writing letters and manuscripts. the writing-arm was the solution. these chairs were also used extensively by politicians. it is said that thomas jefferson wrote parts of the declaration of independence in a windsor writing armchair.	windsor writing arm chair, usa, 1790 ca. ---
	thomas jefferson wrote parts of the declaration of independence in this swivel windsor writing armchair. the original chair is guessed to have been made around 1760 with repairs and reconstructions as late as 1810. ---
	wicker chair with writing and storage arm, usa 1810 ---
	mark twain in his writing arm chair ---
	mission arts&crafts chair with writing arm, usa, 1870 ---
	studio chair with writing arm, usa, 1900 ca. ---
	rustic armchair with foldable tablet, usa, 1930 ca. ---
	rustic chair with writing board, italy, 1930 ca. ---
	drop leaf chair by russel wright, 1950 ---
	chair with writing arm by george nakashima, usa, 1972 ---
	folding chair with writing arm ---
	'capriccio di ugo', armrests fold into side tables, design by matali crasset for domodinamica, 2000 ---
	'alfa' by jouni leino, 2002 ---
	solitaire', upholstered easy chair with attached writing arm, by alfredo haeberli for offec ---

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF TRANSFORMER CHAIRS
a fascinating study showing hundreds of examples
© designboom
compiled by birgit lohmann
this history timeline is provided for educational purposes only,
no reproduction, re-use or transcription for any commercial purpose or use of the content or images is permitted.
a print-publication will soon be available, for inquieries : mail@designboom.com
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