The now omnipresent design use of acrylic and Lucite owes much of its enduring popularity to seasoned creative Charles Hollis Jones. Nicknamed “Mr. Lucite,” the California-based furniture designer and artist made his reputation — and contributed to a lasting legacy for a material one might not immediately consider highbrow — with chairs, tables and other furnishings in the substance scientifically known as polymethyl methacrylate. But while the connecting thread through Jones’s body of work is the presence of translucent materials, his designs are anything but one-note.
The son of an Indiana carpenter, Jones has always been fascinated with structure and reinventing expected ones in new ways. He began working with furniture manufacturers while still a teenager and came to prominence in the 1960s and ’70s, researching and experimenting with techniques to shape acrylic into unconventional forms. “If I design a T-A-B-L-E without thinking of the name, then I can pretend I’ve never seen one,” he told PIN-UP magazine. His design combinations run the gamut from Lucite, brass and glass on elegant dining tables to more unusual applications of Lucite as legs for upholstered sofas and frames for Tibetan fur chairs.
Jones’s work is as varied as his client list, which has included Frank Sinatra, Sylvester Stallone and the Kardashians. For Tennessee Williams, he created a writing chair called the Wisteria chair. Jones also collaborated several times with modernist architect John Lautner, designing furniture that seemed to disappear into its surroundings.
He resides in Los Angeles, where he still designs today.
Find a range of new and vintage Charles Hollis Jones furniture on 1stdibs.
Set of 16 Steelcase Coalesse Armchairs
By Coalesse
Located in Pasadena, TX
This ad is for a set of 16 chairs made by Steelcase. The line is Coalesse which is the highest quality line of furniture they make. The chairs are upholstered, but we strongly recomm...
Fabric, Walnut
$4,995 / set
H 40 in W 19.5 in D 27 in
Paul Evans for Directional Modern Parsons Dining Chairs, Set of Eight
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of eight Modern or Postmodern Parsons blue upholstered dining chairs Attributed to Paul Evans for Directional USA, Circa 1970s Measures: Side chairs - 19.5"W x 27"...
Upholstery, Wood
$16,950 / set
H 36.5 in W 26 in D 26 in
Six Arm Chairs With Lucite Frames by Charles Hollis Jones, Signed & Numbered
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six dining chairs with Lucite frames designed and manufactured in Los Angeles California by Charles Hollis Jones. The chairs are part of the Arch collection also known as the...
Fabric, Lucite, Wood
Set of 4 Vintage Chairs by Charles Hollis Jones, 1970s
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Roma, IT
Charles Hollis Jones (b. 1945) Set of Four Dining Chairs United States, circa 1970s Brushed brass, acrylic (Lucite) and rabbit fur upholstery A rare and highly sophisticated set of...
Brass
Set of Ten Parsons Dining Chairs with Pollack Fabric
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent set of ten bespoke parsons style dining chairs upholstered with Pollack viscose fabric from Germany. The flow pattern fabric has a plush shimmery silver water motif over a dr...
Fabric, Wood
$5,850 / set
H 37.5 in W 17.5 in D 23 in
10 Michael Rotandi Dining Chairs From Carlson-Reges Residence, Los Angeles, 1990
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of Ten Dining chairs by Michael Rotondi from the Carlson-Reges Residence, Los Angeles, CA, 1990. These appear to have had very little if any use. The tan fabric is free of stai...
Aluminum
$3,995 / set
H 40 in W 19.5 in D 27 in
Paul Evans for Directional Modern Parsons Upholstered Dining Chairs, Set of Six
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of six Modern or Postmodern Parsons blue upholstered dining chairs By Paul Evans for Directional USA, Circa 1970s Measures: 19.5"W x 27"D x 40"H. Seat height: 20". ...
Upholstery, Wood
Lucite Dining Chairs by Charles Hollis Jones
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in New York, NY
Set of six waterfall dining chairs by Charles Hollis Jones. The chairs are upholstered in a beautiful bamboo patterned chenille fabric, three chairs are in a mustard tone color and t...
Lucite, Chenille, Upholstery
Set of 8 Platt Collections La Upholstered Dining Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Set of 8 upholstered dining chairs with high rectangular backrests, lavishly covered in finely ribbed textured fabric in silver/grey/taupe ...
Wood
$12,600Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 37 in W 20.5 in D 37 in
Paul Evans for Directional Set of Eight Dining Chairs
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of eight dining chairs designed by Paul Evans and produced by Directional. Two armchairs and six side chairs, all expertly reupholstered a grey Maharam fabric. Great style and co...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Set of Four Post-Modern "Anziano" Dining Chairs by John Hutton for Donghia
By John Hutton, Donghia
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional set of four Anziano dining chairs designed by John Hutton for Donghia, circa 1990s. #5618 One of John Hutton's most recognizable seating designs, the Anziano chair is d...
Steel
Postmodern Set of 4 Italian Fan Back Chairs by Pietro Costantini
By Pietro Costantini
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four tall back Italian chairs by Pietro Costantini, circa 1990s in black lacquer glossy finish and handstitched black leather seat, soli...
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Set of Four Post-Modern "Apple Honey" Dining Chairs by Shiro Kuramata for Pastoe
By Shiro Kuramata, Pastoe
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice and hard to find set of four post-modern "Apple Honey" dining chairs by Shiro Kuramata for USM Pastoe of Holland, circa 1980s. The chairs are in very good vintage conditi...
Steel, Metal
Christian Liaigre “Archipel” Style Dining Chairs for Holly Hunt, Pair
By Christian Liaigre, HOLLY HUNT
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant pair of dining chairs designed by celebrated French designer Christian Liaigre for Holly Hunt. These chairs embody Liaigre’s signature restrained luxury aesthetic, combining ...
Wood, Upholstery
Set of Four Armchairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Memphis Era
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice set of four Mandarin chairs designed by Sottsass for Knoll, in red fabric on foam black enameled tubular legs and silver pipping arms, simple and elegant by this master architect.
Metal
Pair of Post-Modern Italian Armchairs in the Style of Ernest Archibald Taylor
Located in San Diego, CA
Like new pair of post-modern Italian "Liberty" armchairs in the style of Ernest Archibald Taylor, circa 1980s. Black ash structure with mother-of-pearl inlay details consisting of t...
Leather, Wood
