1993 Restored Frank Gehry for Knoll Power Play Lounge Chair Bent Laminated Maple
This is a Power Play Lounge Chair, initially designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll in 1990. This example dates to 1993 and is stamped as such. Gehry worked on this line beginning in 1989, and because of the difficulty in refining the design it was not released for purchase for another five years. The design of the bentwood lounge chair was inspired by the woven construction seen with wooden apple crates. The chair is made from bent-laminated maple, employing braided ribbons of wood to create a flexible, comfortable seating experience without a rigid inner frame. The piece is included in the permanent architecture and design collection at MoMA. This example has been professionally taken apart, re-glued and re-clamped at all of its joints by a master woodworker at a great expense.
This chair measures 30.125 inches deep, 31.375 inches wide, and 32.875 inches high. It has a seat height of 16 inches and an arm height of 23.5 inches. As noted, this chair has gone through an intensive re-haul and is in very good condition. The piece is branded underneath the seat with the Knoll logo and Gehry's signature. Please see photos.