Airline chair from 1930s reappeared in 1990s

#Middlebury #Antiques

Kem Weber (1889-1963) followed a strange path in his life, going from a farmer in Berlin to a famous modern architect and designer in the United States. He apprenticed in 1908 under a famous cabinetmaker. In 1926, he was chosen to supervise the construction of the German Pavilion at the 1910 exhibition in Brussels. A few years later, he went to California to design the German exhibit at the 1915 exhibition in San Francisco. But he was trapped in America by World War I and was refused permission to return home to Germany when the war ended.

This chair made by Kem Weber in 1934 comes apart so the back can be laid flat to hold the seat and legs in a compact, space-saving package. It takes less space and money to ship. A few were made, but no furniture company wanted to gamble on such a modern design until the 1990s, when this Airline chair was again produced.

He had several art-related jobs. He taught art in a studio in Santa Barbara, and in 1921 he went to Los Angeles and worked in the design studio of a furniture and decorating store. In 1924, he became an American citizen. By 1926, he was the only designer and cabinetmaker producing modern designs on the West Coast. He created now-famous silver cocktail shakers and tea sets, and he decorated homes and store interiors.

In 1934, he created his famous sleek “Airline” chair. It was made to be taken apart so the pieces could be packed flat for inexpensive shipping. He was the main architect for Walt Disney Studios by 1939, and Disney ordered 300 of the chairs, but no more were made until 1993. His designs influenced many others while he continued to teach and design private houses.

Today, streamlined designs by Kem Weber are famous and hard to find. A set of four unmarked Airline chairs were estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 at a Rago auction recently, but they did not sell. Perhaps the historic design is still a little ahead of its time.

Q: I saw a Rookwood vase marked with the Rookwood mark and “ETH” at an antiques show. What does that stand for?

A: That is the monogram of the artist Edward Timothy Hurley (1869-1950), who worked at Rookwood from 1896 to 1948. His vases with landscape designs done at Rookwood sell for high prices. Hurley also did etchings, pastels and watercolors. He made several pieces in bronze, and was an author and illustrator of several books. His large vases call for thousands of dollars.

Current Prices
Vase, earthenware, gunmetal glaze, incised, applied shapes, footed, signed “Ted Randall,” contemporary, 12 1/2 x 16 inches, $315.
Hall tree, Gothic Revival, walnut, arched mirror, three drawers, gallery, masks, hooks, 96 x 48 inches, $1,350.
Letter opener, gilded silver, nephrite, enamel, double eagle finial, laurel leaf swag, wooden box, 11 1/2 x 1 inches, $2,460.
Weathervane, crowing rooster, stands on ball, copper, mounted on stand, c. 1900, 36 inches, $4,920.

TIP: Wash art glass in lukewarm water with a little softening agent and some mild dishwashing soap.

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