A pioneer in the world of modern furniture design and one of the leading figures in his field through the second half of the 20th century, Milo Baughman, pronounced Boffman (1923-2003), is a longtime D favorite and today I’m pleased to introduce you to the newly available versions of his classic 1188 Chair.

Originally designed in 1968, the 1188 dining / occasional Chair is touted as the designer’s personal favorite and at 46 years of age, stands as a testament to Baughman’s philosophy that good design is enduring design.

The 1188 Chairs you see here are currently available through Design Within Reach in a variety of upholstery colors and materials including cotton velvet, ducal wool and leather. The steel frame is available in both a brushed bronze or stainless steel finish. For customized options, the 1188 is also available directly through its original manufacturer in North Carolina, Thayer Coggin.

Born in 1923 Milo Baughman grew up in Long Beach California where he demonstrated a “high spirited creative flair” from an early age. While still in his teens, Baughman enlisted in the Air Forces where he would occasionally design lounges for officer’s clubs. After the war, Baughman further honed his creative skills while studying architecture and product design at the now California Institute of the Arts.

By 1947 Milo was contributing to what is now identified as the California Modern furniture style under the name of his own firm, Milo Baughman Design Inc. Come the early 1950s Baughman’s designs were getting noticed and critics such as The New York Times, were describing his work as elegant and fresh”, “strong and greatly sophisticated”.

In 1953 Baughman would meet and partner with Thayer Coggin – a North Carolina native in search of an innovative furniture designer for his manufacturing business. The rest as they say is history and over the course of the next half century the pair would go on to change the face of modern American furniture.

Photos: DWR and LaDifference

Sources: DWR, Thayer Coggin