history

These days, plastic doesn’t have the most upscale reputation, usually stemming from the idea of plastic as disposable. “Plastic furniture” may conjure up images of lawn chairs and beach chairs sold at CVS or Target. However, there’s a world of beautiful, stylish plastic furniture meant for indoor use. Plastic’s appeal in quality furniture isn’t disposability; plastic (and its heavier cousin Lucite), is lightweight and durable, and presents a futuristic aesthetic with clean simple lines. Lucite and molded plastic can be clear, smoked or tinted, or a solid color.

Lucite, like Formica and Kleenex, is actually a brand name that became so ubiquitous it is often used (as I will here) to describe all acrylic glass. The formula for acrylic glass was developed in 1928, and a variety of companies internationally brought it to market through the 1930s. The most prominent versions were Rohm & Haas’ “Plexiglas” and DuPont’s “Lucite.” The initial applications were utilitarian and coincided with World War II: windshields for airplanes, periscopes for submarines, and gun turrets were all being made from Plexiglas/Lucite for both sides of the war.

Cosmetics titan (and first female Jewish magnate) Helena Rubinstein was an early acolyte of Lucite furniture, decking out her apartment with custom-manufactured Rohm & Haas pieces in the 1930s. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the design world hit upon Lucite as the next big material for jewelry, art, and furniture. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Lucite was the medium of choice in evoking the futuristic and space-age for modernist and experimental furniture designers. Molded plastic was often employed in this aesthetic as a lighter-weight and less expensive alternative to Lucite that looked equally sleek and clean.

The Jetsons may have imagined some things that were out of reach, but the funky atomic-style shapes of the show’s backdrops were best translated to the real world in Lucite and plastic. Lucite also became a key material in late Hollywood Regency designs of the 1970s and 1980s, since clear and tinted objects could match easily with gold, white, and even the loudest patterns. Clear furniture and decor, in particular, are strongly associated with the opulent styles of the 1980s.               

Molded plastic found a new design champion in the 1990s through Phillippe Starck’s Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell. Kartell, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in plastic furniture, had a hit on their hands with the Louis Ghost and subsequent similar styles like the Victoria Ghost. These chairs married traditional historic furniture shapes with bold modern materials and geometry for a stunning effect. The Ghost collection of furniture is still produced by Kartell, as well as many imitators offering versions at lower price points. We currently have in stock an assortment of imitation Louis Ghost and Victoria Ghost chairs, as seen below.

Though it has gone in and out of style since its creation, there’s no doubt that Lucite and plastic are here to stay in furniture. As 3D printing becomes more widespread through all fields of design, it’s no surprise that there’s a growing number of companies offering distinctive 3D-printed furniture. Here at Furnish Green, we’re always bringing in Lucite and plastic furniture in a range of styles, so keep an eye on our showroom or click here for your next retro-futuristic treasure!