Cherner Chair Company

Norman Cherner

The legacy of the Cherner Chair Company begins with Norman Cherner. Born in Brooklyn in 1920, Norman studied and later taught at the Columbia University of Fine Arts before going on to the Museum of Modern Art where he was an instructor from 1947-1949. Norman Cherner's training in the Bauhaus style is evident in his iconic Cherner Arm Chair, a successful marriage of craft and manufacturing. 

Although best know for his bent plywood Cherner Arm Chair, Norman's work spanned much further. He had a hand in lighting, glassware and graphics as well as some innovative work in prefabricated housing. Cherner designed one of the first prefabricated houses in the U.S. for the Department of Housing. 

The original Cherner Chair, designed for Plycraft in 1958 has since become an iconic representation of mid-twentieth century modern design, and can be found in the homes of collectors and design museums all over the world.

Today, Norman Cherner's chairs have been brought back to life and into production by his own children. Benjamin and Thomas Cherner utilize the original drawings of their father and continue to produce Norman's designs with the same attention to detail and care that went into the originals. Today, Cherner Chair Company produces a number of Cherner's original designs as well as a growing number of new ones designed by Benjamin Cherner, all with the same aesthetic that makes Cherner such a classic. 

The Cherner Chair Company is the sole licensor of Norman Cherner and Benjamin Cherner designs such as the Cherner Arm Chair and the newly released Cherner Lounge Chair. Elevenfiftyfour is an authorized distributor for Cherner Chair Company.