Sam Maloof
Sam Maloof was an exceptional American woodworker, considered one of the greatest furniture makers of the 20th century.
Born in California in 1916, he died in 2009. He became famous for his unique approach to furniture design, combining function with organic beauty. His style was characterised by flowing, sensual, hand-sculpted curves that made his pieces both elegant and extraordinarily comfortable.
His most iconic creation is undoubtedly his rocking chair. Every piece was unique, made by hand in his workshop, with meticulous attention to detail and quality.
What set Maloof apart was that he worked mainly alone or with a small team, refusing mass production. He worked chiefly in black walnut, the noblest of woods, and created oil finishes that revealed the natural beauty of the wood.
In 1985, he became the first woodworker to receive the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, the “Genius Grant”. His works are now in the collections of major museums and highly sought after by collectors.
His influence on our Large bench “Henri” is openly acknowledged.