Sam Maloof
(American, 1916–2009)
Biography
Sam Maloof was an American woodworker and furniture designer. He is remembered for his hardwood furniture pieces that blend ergonomic functionality with austere forms. A major figure in the American Craft Movement, along with Wendell Castle and George Nakashima, his chairs are characterized by rounded corners, dished-out seats, and carved ridges. Maloof was born on January 24, 1916 in Chino, CA to Lebanese immigrants. He worked at the Vortox Manufacturing Company before being drafted into military service during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he produced furniture in his garage woodshop. Maloof is notable for being the first craftsman to receive a MacArthur fellowship. His work can be found among the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He died on May 21, 2009 in Alta Loma, CA. Despite his widespread acclaim, Maloof always referred to himself as a woodworker, never as an artist, saying, “I like the word. It's an honest word."
Sam Maloof Artworks
Sam Maloof
(474 results)
.jpg "Armchairs (pair), 1946")
.jpg "Desk chair (collab. w/Andre Kertesz), 1968")
English (US)
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