David Rowland
Encyclopedia
David Lincoln Rowland was an American industrial design
er who is best known for the 40/4 chair he created in the late 1950s, a stacking chair so named because 40 chairs can be stored in a stack 4 feet (121.9 cm) high, with sales in the millions.
. An only child, his mother was a violinist while his father was an artist who served as art director of the Haggin Museum
in Stockton, California
. He served in the European Theater of Operations
with the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. After completing his military service, Rowland earned his undergraduate degree in 1949 from Principia College
and was awarded a master's degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art
.
He moved to Manhattan
, where he found work with the industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes
. Working on his own in a low-rent apartment in Upper Manhattan
, he went through dozens of designs and prototypes of a chair that could be stored in a minimum of space. By 1951, Rowland demonstrated a model of the chair with seating surfaces only one quarter of an inch thick, described by The Christian Science Monitor
as a "transparent chair". He finally created a design for a replacement for the folding chair that he first called the "40 in 4 chair", a wire-framed chair with a sculpted seat and back that got its name from the ability to nest 40 of the chairs in a stack four feet high which would occupy 20 cubic foot (0.56633694 m³) of space. It took eight years before he was finally able to find a buyer interested in purchasing the chair, when Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
ordered 17,000 of the chairs on behalf of the University of Chicago
, selling a steel and plastic version of the chair for $16 each.
The chair took off, earning critical recognition in winning the grand prize at the Milan
Triennale
and was included in the Museum of Modern Art
's permanent collection. It was recognized by the American Institute of Interior Designers
in 1965. , the chair was manufactured by OSI Furniture in the U.S. and Howe Furniture in Denmark
. Selling for $175 to nearly $300 per unit, the chair has seen use at St Paul's Cathedral
for the Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
and on submarines of the United States Navy
.
Rowland died at age 86 on August 13, 2010, at his home in Marion, Virginia
. He was survived by his wife, the former Erwin Wassum.
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
er who is best known for the 40/4 chair he created in the late 1950s, a stacking chair so named because 40 chairs can be stored in a stack 4 feet (121.9 cm) high, with sales in the millions.
Biography
Rowland was born on February 12, 1924 in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. An only child, his mother was a violinist while his father was an artist who served as art director of the Haggin Museum
Haggin Museum
The Haggin Museum, is an art and local history museum in Stockton, California in Victory Park. It was created around 1928. The museum includes paintings by Jean Béraud, Rosa Bonheur, William Bouguereau, Jean-Léon Gérôme, George Inness and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It has the largest collection of...
in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
. He served in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
with the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After completing his military service, Rowland earned his undergraduate degree in 1949 from Principia College
Principia College
Principia College is a four-year private co-educational liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois. The campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River between Alton and Grafton, located about thirty miles north of St. Louis. In 1934, Principia College graduated its first class as a full...
and was awarded a master's degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art
Cranbrook Educational Community
The Cranbrook Educational Community, a National Historic Landmark, in the US state of Michigan was founded in the early 20th century by newspaper mogul George Gough Booth. Cranbrook campus is in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills consisting of Cranbrook Schools, Cranbrook Academy of Art,...
.
He moved to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, where he found work with the industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes
Norman Bel Geddes
Norman Melancton Bel Geddes was an American theatrical and industrial designer who focused on aerodynamics....
. Working on his own in a low-rent apartment in Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street...
, he went through dozens of designs and prototypes of a chair that could be stored in a minimum of space. By 1951, Rowland demonstrated a model of the chair with seating surfaces only one quarter of an inch thick, described by The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
as a "transparent chair". He finally created a design for a replacement for the folding chair that he first called the "40 in 4 chair", a wire-framed chair with a sculpted seat and back that got its name from the ability to nest 40 of the chairs in a stack four feet high which would occupy 20 cubic foot (0.56633694 m³) of space. It took eight years before he was finally able to find a buyer interested in purchasing the chair, when Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
ordered 17,000 of the chairs on behalf of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, selling a steel and plastic version of the chair for $16 each.
The chair took off, earning critical recognition in winning the grand prize at the Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
Triennale
Triennale
La Triennale di Milano is a design museum and events venue in Milan, Italy, located inside the Palace of Art building, part of Parco Sempione, the park grounds adjacent to Castello Sforzesco. It hosts exhibitions and events which highlight contemporary Italian design, urban planning, architecture,...
and was included in the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
's permanent collection. It was recognized by the American Institute of Interior Designers
American Society of Interior Designers
The American Society of Interior Designers is the oldest and largest professional association for interior designers. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate...
in 1965. , the chair was manufactured by OSI Furniture in the U.S. and Howe Furniture in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Selling for $175 to nearly $300 per unit, the chair has seen use at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
for the Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Frances Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom. Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". It was watched by an estimated global TV...
and on submarines of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Rowland died at age 86 on August 13, 2010, at his home in Marion, Virginia
Marion, Virginia
Marion is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,968 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Smyth County. The town is named for American Revolutionary War officer Francis Marion.-Tourism:...
. He was survived by his wife, the former Erwin Wassum.