“The Art of Seating”

Curvaceous legs, sumptuous cushioning, lush materials, and all that hand-stitching—there’s something seriously sexy about chairs. The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach looks beyond this humble furniture item’s utilitarian beginnings to its most divine interpretations in “The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design.” On display December 8 through January 20, this special exhibition features 43 exquisite chairs crafted between the mid-1800s until today. A thrill for decor enthusiasts, this collection runs the gamut of design and boasts a variety of famous makers, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles and Ray Eames. Some selections, like Thomas Ustick Walter’s House of Representatives Chamber Arm Chair, are tactile pieces of American history, while others, such as Frank Gehry’s High Stool, resemble works of art rather than places of rest. Visitors to “The Art of Seating” can learn more with docent-led Gallery Talks scheduled throughout the show’s run.