Paul Tuttle

{{Short description|American designer (1918–2002)}} {{Infobox person | name = Paul Tuttle | image =  | alt =  | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date text|1918}} | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, US | death_date = August 2, {{Death year and age|2002|1918}} | death_place = Santa Barbara, California | other_names = | occupation = Furniture designer | years_active = | known_for = "Z" Chair | notable_works = }} '''Paul Tuttle''' (1918 – August 2, 2002)<ref name="Paul Tuttle Strassle"/><ref name="Tuttle Obituary" /> was an American designer known primarily for his work in furniture design, and secondarily for his work in interior design and architectural design. Tuttle had no formal education in design, instead drawing influence from his own experience and the mentorship of well known designers such as Alvin Lustig, Welton Becket, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Tuttle designed furniture for over 50 years, resulting in a body of work that included both manufactured and custom made furniture.

==Early life== Tuttle was born in St. Louis, Missouri, growing up during the Great Depression.<ref name="Still Modern">{{Citation | author = Jane Ellison | title = Paul Tuttle: Still Modern After All These Years | publisher = Santa Barbara Seasons | year = 2013 | url = https://sbseasons.com/2013/08/still-modern-after-all-these-years/ | accessdate = October 22, 2018}}</ref> As a young man, he served in India during World War II.<ref name="Still Modern" /> Upon his return, Tuttle applied to the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, but was not accepted.<ref name="Still Modern" /> Despite this, he decided to audit a class there taught by Alvin Lustig.<ref name="Still Modern" /> His talent was noticed by the instructor, who hired Tuttle to work in his studio.<ref name="Paul Tuttle Strassle">{{Citation | author = Strassle Collection | title = Paul Tuttle | publisher = Strassle Collection | url = http://www.straessle-collection.ch/seiten/design_tuttle.htm | accessdate = October 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Still Modern" />

==Career== thumb|The "Z" chair, originally known as the "Rocket Launcher" for which Paul Tuttle won the Carson Pirie Scott Young Designer Award. Tuttle started out working in the studio of designer Alvin Lustig in Los Angeles. He soon received the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West Fellowship, an apprenticeship program with mentorship from Wright himself.<ref name="Still Modern" /> Tuttle moved to Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, and impressed Wright during his short stay of four months.<ref name="Still Modern" /> Tuttle then moved back to Los Angeles and worked on furniture building by himself awhile, before serving as an apprentice to architecture firms Welton Becket & Associates and Thornton Ladd & Associates.<ref name="Tuttle Designs ArtDaily">{{Citation | title = Paul Tuttle Designs By Marla C. Berns | publisher = Art Daily | url = http://artdaily.com/news/8581/Paul-Tuttle-Designs-br--By-Marla-C--Berns | accessdate = October 22, 2018}}</ref> As an apprentice, Tuttle worked on interior design. In 1956, Tuttle moved to Santa Barbara where he met Hans Grether, owner of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Doestch, Grether & Cie.<ref name="Tuttle Obituary">{{Citation | author = Jeannine Stein | title = Paul tuttle, 84; Designer's Furniture Exhibited as Art | work = Los Angeles Times | year = 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-22-me-tuttle22-story.html | access-date = October 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Still Modern" /> Grether hired Tuttle as a design consultant shortly thereafter.<ref name="Still Modern" />

In 1966 Tuttle gave a solo exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum, cementing his position as a leading American designer. He also won the first ever Carson Pirie Scott Young Designer Award for the popular "Z" Chair in 1966.<ref name="California Design">{{cite book |last1=Lauria |first1=Jo |last2=Baizerman |first2=Suzanne |last3=Greenbaum |first3=Greenbaum |date=2005 |title=California Design: The Legacy of West Coast Craft and Style |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KvtNbSpCpTkC |publisher=Chronicle Books |pages=42–43 |isbn=0811843742}}</ref> The design for the "Z" Chair, originally known as the "Rocket Launcher" would become Tuttle's most well known work.<ref name="California Design" /> Tuttle was hired by Strassle in 1967 as a designer, and subsequently spent half his time abroad in Switzerland until he left the position in 1983.<ref name="Paul Tuttle Strassle" /> In 1978, Tuttle's work was featured in a solo exhibit called "Paul Tuttle, Designer" at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.<ref name="Tuttle Obituary" /> After leaving his designer position at Strassle, Tuttle continued at Strassle on a royalty only basis, but concentrated on his custom work in Santa Barbara.<ref name="Still Modern" />

In 1982, Tuttle partnered with Bud Tullis to produce custom furniture, primarily for collectors.<ref name="Still Modern" /><ref name="Bud Tullis">{{Citation | author = Bud Tullis | title = Detailed Biography | publisher = Bud Tullis: Woodworker | year = 2007 | url = http://www.budtullis.com/bio.php | accessdate = October 22, 2018}}</ref> Between 1982 and 2001, Tuttle's custom work was at its height, resulting in the creation of over 200 pieces of furniture. A 2001 retrospective entitled "Paul Tuttle Designs" at the University of California, Santa Barbara showcased Tuttle's body of work.<ref name="Tuttle Obituary" /><ref name="Tuttle Designs ArtDaily" /><ref name="Tuttle Obituary 2">{{Citation | work = Los Angeles Times | title = Paul tuttle, 84, Designer Renowned for Elegant Furniture, Architecture | publisher = South Florida Sun-Sentinel | year = 2002 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2002-08-23-0208220825-story.html | accessdate = October 22, 2018}}</ref> Tuttle died on August 2, 2002, in Santa Barbara.<ref name="Tuttle Obituary 2" />

==Style== Tuttle was known for sleek, elegant, and refined modern furniture, as well as combining materials like metal, leather, and glass.<ref name="Tuttle Obituary" /><ref name="California Design" /><ref name="Tuttle Obituary 2" /> Tuttle began designing furniture in the 1950s, and his style was heavily influenced by the modernist style of mentor Alvin Lustig. Tuttle followed the modernist ideal of minimalism, eschewing decorative ornamentation on his furniture. His work emphasized the materials he used and he sought to reflect the essence of function in his pieces.<ref name="California Design" />

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuttle, Paul}} Category:1918 births Category:2002 deaths Category:American furniture designers Category:People from St. Louis Category:American interior designers