The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick

Widely celebrated as the father of the Studio Furniture Movement, Wharton Esherick is one of the most important furniture designers of the twentieth century. Presenting his preserved hillside house and studio, this book showcases seven decades of innovative woodwork and sculpture, embodying his influence on American art and design.

Wharton Esherick (1887–1970) stands as a pivotal figure in 20th-century American art, craft, and design. Now known as the Wharton Esherick Museum, the artist’s self-proclaimed “autobiography in three dimensions” on Valley Forge Mountain, constructed between 1926 and 1966, served as his creative epicenter and a vibrant community hub.

To introduce Esherick’s visionary work to a broader public, this book draws on the museum’s collection of almost 3,000 objects, many never before seen outside his home and studio, following Esherick’s evolution from paintings and woodcut illustrations to his revolutionary fusion of furniture and organic sculpture. Through fully contextualizing iconic works in Esherick’s own space, this book immerses readers in his creative world while capturing his unparalleled artistic contributions to the realms of furniture, architecture, prints, drawings, and sculpture.

Sarah Archer is a design and culture writer based in Philadelphia. Colin Fanning is assistant curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Ann Glasscock is associate curator, decorative arts specialist at Taft Museum of Art. Holly Gore is director of interpretation and associate curator of special collections, and Emily Zilber is director of curatorial affairs and strategic partnerships at the Wharton Esherick Museum. Joshua McHugh is a New York–based photographer who specializes in interior, architecture, and design.