Katavolos & Littell & Kelley Biography
The T-Chair, was designed by William Katavolos (1924 - 2020), Douglas Kelley (1928 - 2021) and Ross Littell (1924 - 2000) in 1952 as part of Laverne's "New Furniture" collection. Called the "T-chair" because of the metal frame, which was made by assembling several T-shaped elements and the leather seat, this chair is truly a classic of 20th century design. In fact, it is housed in the permanent collections of the MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre. The T Chair was manufactured by Gratz Industries in New York. Over the last 50 years the "T chair" by Katavolos has become a cult object in various design styles, due to its limited production and originality. An iconic example of mid-century American avant-garde design that remains uniquely contemporary and striking. Composed of leather resting on a T-shaped tubular steel frame, this chair evokes the fusion of pioneering modernist design with the forward-thinking innovation that was celebrated in the 1960s. Simplicity, functionality and reduction to the essential minimum were among the designers' principles: three support points, a transverse bracing and a covering for the seat. To secure the leather covering to the frame, hidden screws have been mounted.
William Katavolos (1924 - 2020) was an American architect, urban planner, and furniture designer of Greek origin. He was a professor at the Pratt Institute in New York and deputy director of the Center for Experimental Structures. In 1949, Katavolos completed his studies in industrial design at the Pratt Institute in New York. He then ran a design studio with Ross Littell and Douglas Kelley. He became famous in the 1950s and 1960s with his classic and archetypal furniture designs. The T-Chair for "Laverne" made of tubular steel with a stretched piece of leather is often considered one of the most important chairs of the 20th century. Since 1960 he has taught at the Pratt Institute, in the same year he participated in the "Visionary Architecture" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. More recently, Katavolos has worked on urban planning and experimental structures.
Douglas Kelley (1928 - 2021) is an American industrial designer known for creating the T-chair and the Elna Lotus sewing machine. Kelley was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 9, 1928. He studied at Pratt Institute in New York City, where he met Ross Littell and William Katavolos. They began working for Laverne Originals, a furniture company, designing furniture, fabrics and tableware. While at Laverne, they designed the "T-chair", which won the 1952 AID (American Society of Interior Designers) award for best furniture design in the United States. Kelley subsequently joined La Compagnie de l'Esthétique Industrielle (CEI) in Paris as CEO, at the invitation of Raymond Loewy. He spent six years there (1960-1966) and collaborated on the design of the iconic Elna Lotus sewing machine. He then resigned to head Lippincott and Margulies' new design office in London. Shortly afterwards he founded Douglas Kelley Associates, based in Jermyn Street, London. Kelley died in London on November 21, 2021.
Ross Littell (1924 - 2000) American textile designer, artist and furniture designer Ross Littell was a passionate advocate of Scandinavian design. After earning a degree in industrial design from Pratt Institute in New York, Littell soon began an illustrious career producing designs for the likes of Knoll and Herman Miller in the 1950s and 1960s. He moved to Copenhagen in 1960, where his appreciation for Scandinavian design developed. Littell subsequently moved to Italy before finally returning to his native California. During his time in Europe, Littell worked with a number of major fabric and furniture manufacturers. Geometry, nature and movement have proven to be constant inspirations for Littell throughout his career. In particular, he developed innovative fabric patterns based on mathematical combinations and rhythm. The resulting optical designs proved influential and are now a familiar image of the 1960s.
