What Makes Wharton Esherick Furniture So Unique?

Wharton Esherick furniture is so unique and distinctive because Esherick made it that way – on purpose. His artistic vision was to design furniture that functioned as sculpture, and sculpture that functioned as furniture. The early asymmetric, prismatic forms of his sculptural furnishings and his organic approach to design for his later works established him as a renowned leader and one of the four formative makers who are known as the 1st generation of the Studio Furniture Movement.

Perhaps John Greig, Sculpture Shop Manager at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and curator of the 2020 exhibition, Wharton Esherick: An Artistic Legacy Through Necessity, explains it best:

“Esherick’s work is unique … because you can see the transition he is making from sculpture to furniture. That blending of the two disciplines is very special.”

Wharton Esherick Furniture as Sculpture

Who was Wharton Esherick? Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Esherick was the eldest of the first generation of Studio Furniture makers (Esherick, Nakashima, Maloof, Espenet Carpenter) and considered the “Dean of American Craftsmen.”

Esherick studied painting at PAFA as well as drawing and printmaking at the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art, but he is best known for creating furniture as sculpture. He was able to blend his knowledge of the applied and fine arts and blur the lines between form and function, bringing his singular vision to life as furnishings, interiors, buildings, and more. The uniqueness of Wharton Esherick’s furniture is complemented especially by the paintings, prints, drawings, poetry, and sculpture he also created.

If It Isn’t Fun, It Isn’t Worth Doing

From 1920 until his death in 1970, Esherick’s signature style evolved as he explored the nature of wood and its dynamic qualities, discovering the free, curvilinear forms that define his work. He enjoyed one-of-a-kind furniture commissions mostly for the joy of creating new shapes for everyday objects. He loved artistic freedom and is quoted as saying:

“I work for fun. When I stop enjoying it, I’m through…I work best with clients who become my friends.”

Esherick’s work is represented in the permanent collections of more than 20 major museums and galleries, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and at Moderne Gallery.

Introducing Esherick to a New Generation of Artists

The Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, PA was designated a National Historic Landmark for Architecture in 1993. Its campus is Esherick’s former home comprised of his “highly individual,” hand-built studio, now on the National Register of Historic Places, which incorporates Arts and Crafts, Expressionist, and organic designs; his former Expressionist garage, now the Visitor Center; his 1956 Workshop, designed in collaboration with Louis Kahn; the one-room Diamond Rock Schoolhouse that once served as his painting studio; and Sunekrest, the farmhouse where Esherick and his wife Letty fled the city for the country at the height of the American Impressionism Movement.

Wharton Esherick’s 50th Anniversary

In 2022, the museum marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration of Esherick’s profound influence on all who encounter not only his art and furniture but also his eclectic work and living spaces. Several rooms in the Museum feature artworks from admiring artists, broadening his creative circle further.

“The inclusion of these artworks and others throughout the installation speaks to the admiration and inspiration passed not only from one artist to another but to anyone in tune with Esherick’s approach to living,” said Katie Wynne, the Museum’s Communications and Public Programs Director. “Esherick built a world for himself that feels strikingly relevant today, from seeking a life close to nature to the combination of craft, problem-solving, and play that brings meaning to our material lives.”

Wharton Esherick left a truly unique impression on the history of American fine art, craft, architecture, and design. The next time you see a piece of Wharton Esherick furniture, celebrate its beautiful form – and function – for fun!

Moderne Gallery Appraisal Services for Wharton Esherick Furniture

Founded in 1984, the Philadelphia-based Moderne Gallery is internationally renowned as a leading dealer of exceptional art and design from the 20th and 21st centuries. Moderne Gallery also provides insurance, sales, and estate appraisals for the work of Wharton Esherick and most other artists from the Studio Craft Movement, based on an established reputation as an authority with specialized knowledge of their work. Please click here to submit items for appraisal or contact us with any questions.

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