​Retro to Modern: A History of Acrylic Furniture - Clear ...

In honor of National Retro Day, we wanted to take a dive into the history of acrylic furniture.

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The History of Acrylic

Acrylic, also known as the brand names Lucite or Plexiglas, was developed in the s. Its scientific name is Poly(methyl methacrylate), or PMMA, and it is a type of thermoplastic, which is a plastic material that is moldable at extremely hot temperatures and solid once cool. Like today, the acrylic material was most often used in sheet form, and it was more lightweight, durable, and shatter-resistant compared to glass.

The company that created acrylic licensed it in two ways; first as Plexiglas to be a glass replacement, and afterwards as Lucite for commercial uses in . Commercially, Lucite was used in jewelry, handbags, and cosmetics packaging. Plexiglas, in comparison, was often used for larger projects, such as aircraft windows, lenses for lighthouses, and aquariums.

Before it was used widespread for furniture, acrylic was being utilized for military purposes, as wartime was quickly approaching. During World War 2 (-), the country&#;s resources were mostly directed to military uses, and acrylic was no different. Acrylic, as Plexiglas, was used to help the military, including as airplane windshields and submarine periscopes.

Despite that, some people began using acrylic to make furniture. In , Helena Rubinstein, a wildly successful cosmetics mogul and art collector, commissioned an entire suite of acrylic furnishings for her NYC apartment, including an illuminated acrylic bed in her bedroom and acrylic chairs for business meetings. The clear acrylic furniture was designed by Hungarian artist and interior designer Ladislas Medgyes.

Lucite Illuminated Bed commissioned by and for Helena Rubinstein, s. Source.

When the war ended in , acrylic was ready to be worked with in design on a larger scale. The company licensed Lucite widely, making it much more available across every industry. It steadily gained momentum in the world of design, with artists and designers being inspired by its moldability and translucense. In , French designer Erwine Laverne told a New York Times reporter, &#;The most important element in rooms is people, not furniture,&#; speaking to the growing popularity and importance of the clear furniture.

Acrylic goes Retro

But acrylic furniture hit its peak popularity in the s and &#;70s, as more acrylic furniture designers and artists entered the scene. Glass artists began to take more of an interest in acrylics, especially taking advantage of acrylic&#;s flexibility, light weight, cost, and capacity to refract and filter light. Designers like John Mascheroni and Charles Hollis Jones, known as the Godfather of Lucite, created iconic pieces that still look beautiful in today&#;s modern home.

Acrylic Z-shaped tables by John Mascheroni, s. Source.

Acrylic "Waterfall" Bar Stools by Charles Hollis Jones, s. Source.

Designers and artists alike loved the durability and look of acrylic. As Charles Hollis Jones put in an interview with Ravelin Magazine,

&#;I worked a lot with Lucite when I first started. When I worked with the company that wanted me to go to Europe, they had me work with glass, ceramic, enamel. I went over there and the glass was always in the wrong color and it always broke. When the earthquakes came, I got visual proof of that. I like to work with acrylic because it does two wonderful things that glass doesn&#;t. It&#;s shatter-proof, first of all. I can also change the microstructure and make it one-tenth the strength of steel. And the most important thing it does: it carries light. Glass reflects light. Lucite holds it and carries it. If you play with it, you can make a lens to look at something in space. It&#;s that good. It&#;s purer than crystal.&#;

In fact, acrylic was often used in chandeliers as well, mixed with other materials to make incredible striking designs that would have been much more difficult to achieve with glass.

The Modern Acrylic Rennaissance

Recently, acrylic furniture has once again risen in popularity. While many of the designs are timeless, more designers are coming forward with acrylic furniture for the modern home. In , designer Philippe Starck introduced his Louis Ghost Chair, and the trend has only grown from there.

Louis Ghost Chair by Philippe Stark, . Source.

You&#;ll now find entirely acrylic pieces of home furnishings and accessories, as well as acrylic-detailed furniture all across the market. With so many designs, options, and knock-offs all across the market, we at clear home design aim to bring you a consolidated and curated collection of the best in acrylic for the home in one online store, so you don&#;t have to search endlessly for the perfect clear furniture or accessory for your home.

So is acrylic furniture modern? Is it retro? Is it vintage? What&#;s considered retro?

Retro refers to styles of the near past. Acrylic furniture that was designed in the s and &#;70s would be considered retro.

But what is the difference between retro and vintage?

While retro refers to the near past and often speaks to styles, vintage usually refers to the history of the item itself. So while we would consider a waterfall-style barstool &#;retro,&#; we would label Helena Rubinstein&#;s actual Lucite bed from the s as &#;vintage.&#;

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)

https://gabbyhome.com/blog/acrylic-lucite-furniture/

https://roomlust.wordpress.com//09/15/design-history-lucite/

https://www.ravelinmagazine.com/posts/the-godfather-of-lucite/

KDSX supply professional and honest service.

https://www.elledecor.com/shopping/furniture/a/philippe-starck-louis-ghost-chair/

https://pinupmagazine.org/articles/charles-hollis-jones-the-incredible-mister-lucite

https://vintagesupplystore.com/product/vintage-high-back-lucite-dining-chairs/#/

Is it Lucite? Is it Acrylic? Does it matter? The terms (and materials) Lucite and Acrylic may be used interchangeably, but there are some differences. Here, we discuss those key differences and why you may choose Lucite vs acrylic in certain use cases. 

What is the Difference Between Lucite and Acrylic?

Lucite vs acrylic: What&#;s the difference? Before we discuss the differences, let&#;s first discuss how they are the same. They are both transparent, durable, and shatter resistant. And they are both made from a synthetic polymer called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

The difference? Lucite is a trademark name of PMMA. Developed and manufactured by Dupont in the s, it is now manufactured by Lucite International. There are other acrylics that go by their branded name, such as Plexiglas and Acrylite to name a few. Think of acrylic as the generic name. So, Lucite is an acrylic while acrylic is not Lucite. 

Qualities of Lucite vs Acrylic

Both Lucite and acrylic have high optical clarity, but again, they share many similarities since they are both PMMA.  But there are few differences. Here&#;s how they shake out.  

• Clarity

  &#; Both Lucite and acrylic have high optical clarity, however Lucite has a slightly higher refractive index, which makes it appear clearer and brighter

• UV resistance

  &#; Lucite is slightly more resistant to UV light than acrylic

• Limited yellowing

  &#; both Lucite and acrylic maintain their transparency as they age without excessive yellowing

• Chemical resistance

  &#; Lucite is more resistant to certain chemicals (i.e., alcohol and some cleaning agents) 

• Cost

  &#; Whether Lucite or acrylic is fabricated in cast or extruded forms, it is less expensive and more durable than glass

• Easy maintenance

  &#; A wet microfiber cloth may be all that&#;s needed to clean PMMA, but when cleaning and maintaining Lucite or acrylic, the easiest and safest measure is to use soapy water or 

  Novus products

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• More scratch-resistance

  &#; Compared to glass and other plastics, such as polycarbonate, acrylic (including Lucite) is less likely to scratch. And when it does get scratched, it can possibly be polished/buffed out. Try that with glass! 

Lucite and Acrylic Use Cases

Lucite and acrylic are often used as a replacement for glass due to their shatter resistant properties. Here are few common use cases for Lucite and acrylic:

Lucite

 

• Furniture.

  It&#;s durable and fashionable(and easy to clean). What more do you want from a piece of furniture? Think coffee tables, nightstands, lamps, chairs, etc.

• Jewelry.

  While Lucite is a strong material, it is able to be hand-carved without breaking or cracking. This makes for a versatile material for crafting jewelry. 

• Automotive

  &#; The durability and superb clarity of Lucite lends itself to automobile headlight covers.

Acrylic

• Accessories

  &#; Acrylic cases (and screen protectors) come to mind, but clear desk accessories are also trendy and functional accessories for the home or office.   

• Safety shields

  &#; From bullet-resistant shields to office partitions to sneeze guards, acrylic provides safety without limiting visibility. 

• Signage

  &#; acrylic signs and sign holders are durable and stand up to heavy use, such as holding table menus at a restaurant or displaying retail signage outdoors.

• Display cases

  &#; Retailers can show off merchandise while protecting it with cabinets with acrylic windows. Acrylic is also a lightweight (and lower cost) material to create point of purchase displays.

• Aquariums

  &#; Acrylic&#;s low water absorption, impact resistance, and optical properties make it a great material for aquariums.

• Picture frames

  &#; Acrylic&#;s UV resistant properties protect artwork or documents from UV rays, thanks to acrylic&#;s UV resistant properties.  

• Roof panels

  &#; Using acrylic is a durable material to use on structures such as pergolas. They are weather- and UV-resistant, and won&#;t yellow from the sun. They are also lighter than glass which makes installation easier. 

• Windows

  &#; Windows made from acrylic instead of glass offer protection from projectiles&#;an important consideration if the structure is near a golf course or baseball diamond. 

Final Thoughts

Unsure whether Lucite vs acrylic is best for your needs? Talk to our sales professionals for additional information. Acme Plastics carries acrylic sheets from Lucite, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Plaskolite Optix, Polycast and Chemcast in a variety of sizes, including 80&#; x 120&#; boards & panels. Acme Plastics offers acrylic in rods, tubes, and mirrors as well.

Are you interested in learning more about Wholesale Acrylic Furniture? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!