Designer Name: Charles Rohlfs (1853–1936)
Claim to Fame: American born furniture designer known for his rare and uniquely hand carved, Arts & Crafts style like furniture.
Why Bohmerian? Charles was born in Brooklyn, the son of a carpenter and even after only a short 10 year career as a furniture designer his designs were recognized to be some of the most original works of his time. He didn’t conform to any existing styles and even called his own works “artistic furniture”, most likely seeing himself as a rather inventive artist rather then a talented craftsman.
In some way I may feel connected to him because of our shared Brooklyn heritage, or maybe I am intrigued by his rare originality and the exceptional detail of all his works.
To many I am sure his work may seem old fashioned but I assure you all that after an overload of clichéd “clean line” designs it is only a matter of time before influences of this sort will be showing up in design and fashion. Because of its rarity, purchasing one of his works would be difficult and costly, yet I very much look forward to using pieces of this sort in fashionable and modern ways.
“My designs are my own. I evolve them. They are like those of no other period nor people…I do not read Ruskin nor anybody nor anything that might influence my ideas. I never get them from books…They are mine and into their execution I put all my heart and force and that is why they appeal.” —Charles Rohlfs (1853–1936), House Beautiful, January 1900
I like it how all the chairs so different yet are clearly made by the same hands, so to say. Shows one’s got both real talent and enough of creativity!