Wendel Castle (American, 1932-2018), Pair of Molar Chairs

White painted hollow fiberglass with rubber edge flush foot, artist's initials to interior in black ink.

27 x 30 x 26 in.

The Contemporary Art Collection of Francine & Benson Pilloff, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Accompanied by invoices and authentication letters from Riley Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH, 2000

Wendell Castle was an American sculptor and furniture maker and an important figure in late 20th century American craft. He has been referred to as the "father of the art furniture movement" and included in the "Big 4" of modern woodworking with Wharton Esherick, George Nakashima, and Sam Maloof.

Castle introduced a woodworking technique called stack lamination to the creation of furniture. Originally used for making duck decoys, this technique allowed "infinite flexibility" and unprecedented control over shape and form. In addition to working in wood, he used plastics and metals.

During his life, Castle received many of awards including a 1994 'Visionaries of the American Craft Movement' award sponsored by the American Craft Museum, a 1997 Gold Medal from the American Craft Council, and a 2001 Award of Distinction from The Furniture Society.

Good condition.