Gerald Summers 1899-1967

single sheet of cut and bent birch plywood

Art and Decoration, November 1934, p. 59
Architectural Review, December 1935, p. 194
Thirties: British art and design before the war, exhibition catalogue, Hayward Gallery, 25 October 1979 - 13 January 1980, London, cat. no. 4.77, p. 150
Derek Ostergard (ed.), Bent Wood and Metal Furniture: 1850-1946, New York, 1987, cat. no. 106, pp. 318-319
Martin Battersby, The Decorative Thirties, London, 1988, pp. 96-97
Pioneers of Modern Furniture, exhibition catalogue, Fischer Fine Art, 24 April - 31 May 1991, London, cat. no. 17
Alexander von Vegesack, Peter Dunas, and Mathias Schwartz-Clauss, (eds), 100 Masterpieces from the Vitra Design Museum, exhibition catalogue, Weil am Rhein, 1996, pp. 110-111, cat. no. 42
Doug Ngo and Eric Pfeiffer, Bent Ply:  The Art of Plywood Furniture, New York, 2003, p. 114

A stylish piece of good overall appearance. Piece has been repolished and has a mid-brown patina with a slight tinge of red. Minor old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. Typical minor cracking to veneer in places such as to where the back rest joins the seat. Two small areas of veneer loss, c. 0.5cm long, to the front of the front legs. Reverse of head rest, back rest and underside of seat all with evidence of small tack holes which suggests that the piece was formerly partially upholstered. Copies of period image showing other chairs of this design with varying upholstery covering is available upon request.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In Summers' iconic and simple design a single sheet of plywood was cut and bent in two directions, eliminating the need for upholstery and connectors and dispensing with off-cuts.  Originally designed for use in the tropics, the lack of metal and the smooth surface made it ideal for withstanding humidity. 

It is believed that only 120 examples of the chair were produced before the company closed in 1940.