Circa 1960s–1970s | Wood, fabric

Brutalism gets an idiosyncratic accompaniment from Pop Primitivism with these rough-hewn, swiveling, chairs. Artist William Westenhaver was co-founder of the WITCO furnishings firm located on the west of the USA, which pioneered designs incorporating motifs from Pacific Island culture. In fact, he was once dubbed “the Titan of Tiki.” Today’s resurgence of interest in this once-popular style may be retrospectively realizing the aspects it shares with mainstream Brutalism. Here, abstract geometric forms in a special finish are carved from Pacific Northwest cedar to stand out from the darker, bold wood grain. These pieces have been archivally reupholstered in Dedar fabric.