William Gray Purcell, George Feick, Jr., and George Grant Elmslie, after the design by

Wendy Kaplan, The Art that is Life: The Arts & Crafts Movement in America, 1875-1920, Boston, 1987, pp. 203-204 (for the chair model)

Tod M. Volpe and Beth Cathers, Treasures of the American Arts and Crafts Movement:  1890-1920, New York, 1988, pp. 60-61 (for the chair model)

Charlotte and Peter Fiell, eds., 1000 Chairs, Cologne, 2000, p. 143 (for the chair model)
Karen Livingstone and Linda Parry, eds., International Arts and Crafts, London, 2005, p. 174 (for a period photograph showing a variation of this chair design in the Edna S. Purcell House, circa 1915) and p. 175 (for the chair model)

The Minneapolis-based architectural firm of Purcell, Feick and Elmslie was one of the leading proponents of the Prairie School style.  In addition to being distinguished for their residential commissions, the firm designed a large number of banks throughout the Midwest.  Their bank buildings demonstrated a new and progressive architectural vocabulary distinguished by box-like structures, steel frames, brick facades, stylized terracotta ornament, pier-and-lintel framing, arched entries, and integrated interiors.  The sofa and arm chairs in the current lot follow the 1912 design for the Merchants Bank of Winona, the firm’s most celebrated bank commission.  In addition to the architectural plan, the firm provided designs for all aspects of the interior, including leaded glass windows and a large sky light, grilles for the tellers, lighting fixtures, and furniture.  The progressive design of this seating furniture is suggestive of the modular, geometric designs synonymous with Austrian furniture of the period, notably by Koloman Moser.  Purcell’s travels abroad and exposure to Austrian design likely served as the inspiration for these forms.  Variations of this iconic chair design were also used in the living room of Purcell’s own Minneapolis residence, the Edna S. Purcell House, which was named after the architect’s wife.