An example of a side chair designed by Ralph Rye for Thonet. Matching chair for the Model 879.100 dining or conference table. Manufactured in 1977. Solid elm frame with light brown striped upholstery fabric. Curved interlocking wood design on the corner of the seat and leg frame. A sleek modern design. This chair was exhibited at the NEOCON showroom in 1977 and shown in the New York Designer Saturday of that year. In the fall of 1977, the Cheboygan, Wisconsin plant had a catastrophic failure of its boiler system and the factory burned to the ground, which ended the production of the Rye furniture line. These are all original factory showroom pieces from the showroom at Chicago Merchandise Mart, and due to the burning of the plant, Thonet allowed Ralph Rye to pick up the first production line pieces produced by the Cheboygan plant. These are the only pieces known to exist in the world. Dimensions: 30"h x 21.25"d x 21"w x 19"seat height x 19"seat depth. In very good condition. Provenance: From the personal collection of designer Ralph Rye - a multi-talented visionary with a career in city planning, architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. Rye has collaborated with some of the finest furniture companies in America including Dunbar, Nessen, Thonet, Jens Risom, and Baker.

30 x 21 x 21.25 in