Circa 1960s–1970s | Wood, fabric

Brutalism gets an idiosyncratic accompaniment from Pop Primitivism with these rough-hewn, swiveling seating pieces. Artist William Westenhaver was co-founder of the West Coast’s WITCO furnishings firm, which pioneered designs incorporating motifs from Pacific islands culture. In fact, he was once dubbed “the Titan of Tiki.” Today’s resurgence of interest in this once-popular style may be retrospectively realizing the aspects it shares with mainstream Brutalism. Here abstract, geometric forms in a special finish are carved from Pacific Northwest cedar to stand out from the darker, bold wood grain. Archivally reupholstered in Dedar fabric.