Wave Hill Chair

The Wave Hill Chair has been a fixture at Wave Hill’s public gardens in the Bronx for more than half a century. Its form traces a layered design history, drawing on a 1918 chair by the Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld (now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art) and a 1960s adaptation by landscaper designer Lester Collins for use at the Millbrook estate, Innisfree. Over decades of use at Wave Hill, the chair has become synonymous with the site itself: an understated, enduring design that echoes a strong past, while remaining practical and welcoming. On any given day, you’ll find visitors settled into these chairs to read, rest, or simply watch the Hudson River as the breeze moves through the gardens. Our version reworks that form in rustic American white oak and pure tung oil, letting the grain and natural variation of the wood remain visible. Single-stave boards throughout, rather than glued-up panels, give each part a clearer, more honest read. The result is a chair that feels natural, more material-forward, and well suited to the long tradition of American outdoor furniture. Made in Bosque County, Texas, the chair is designed to ship flat and built for porches, gardens, terraces, and open air. White oak was chosen for its strength and outdoor durability, and the oil finish was chosen because it works with the wood rather than covering it over. Made to weather beautifully. The chair will turn a muted gray with sun exposure. Photographed at Wave Hill in the Bronx, NY. Four percent of revenue from each chair is donated to Wave Hill.