1970s Sculptural Wave Daybed Triple Chaise Lounge - Tahoe Estate Provenance cr 1970s
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A monumental sculptural wave daybed, a triple chaise lounge of custom manufacture, measuring eighty inches in length by fifty five inches in width and seating two to three.
The continuous S curve silhouette flows from seat to backrest in one movement, framed by carved walnut scrollwork and accented with antique brass nailhead trim. Deep biscuit tufting across the original cocoa chenille upholstery creates rich shadow and texture.
The frame is hand carved hardwood, likely walnut or cherry, with sculptural scrollwork and bun feet. The upholstery is dense foam padding over a sinuous spring or webbed seat, fully tufted in chenille or a looped synthetic blend, and the brass nailhead outlines the base, a luxury finish typical of boutique upholstery houses rather than of mass production.
The joinery is heavy dowel and screw reinforcement, designed to bear several sitters without deformation. Everything in the frame and the tailoring points to a high end studio piece rather than a retail floor item.
History & Provenance
The daybed was commissioned for a Lake Tahoe mountain residence in the 1970s and came out of that house. From the 1960s through the 1980s Tahoe homeowners regularly commissioned custom California furniture from Bay Area and Los Angeles decorators for their lodges and retreats, and the piece belongs to that practice.
It was made by a California studio upholsterer, likely from the design circles of San Francisco or Los Angeles. Michael Taylor, Suzanne Tucker and smaller Tahoe woodworking studios are all plausible circles for its origin, but no upholsterer's stamp or estate documentation is recorded, so the attribution to any particular decorator remains open and rests on the construction and the idiom.
The design blends 1930s Hollywood Regency, seen in the scroll legs, the nailhead trim and the carved frame, with 1970s organic modernism, seen in the wave silhouette, the continuous curvature and the lounge scale proportions. It also carries Art Deco revival flourishes alongside the relaxed grandeur of 1970s mountain modern design.
That hybrid aesthetic emerged in California during the post modern luxury revival, when decorators revived pre war ornament while keeping ergonomic, body hugging forms. At fifty five inches wide the piece is wider than a loveseat and shorter than a sofa, an oversized social chaise meant for conversation pits, mountain lodges and media lounges. The dating is given as circa 1972 to 1982.
Product Details
| Form | Custom sculptural daybed and triple chaise lounge, continuous S curve, biscuit tufted, carved scrollwork frame with bun feet |
| Era | 1970s, c. 1972 to 1982 |
| Origin | Northern or Southern California custom upholstery shop, commissioned for a Lake Tahoe estate, California, USA |
| Maker | California studio upholsterer, unstamped. Attribution rests on construction and idiom |
| Style | 1930s Hollywood Regency with 1970s organic modernism, Art Deco revival flourishes, mountain modern |
| Materials | Carved hardwood base with walnut finish, likely walnut or cherry, original cocoa chenille upholstery, antique brass nailhead trim, dense foam over sinuous spring or webbed seat |
| Dimensions | 80 inches long by 55 inches wide by 36 inches high, approximate. Seat height 15 inches |
| Condition | Excellent vintage condition with minor wear consistent with age. Solid frame and sound upholstery |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
A piece at this scale sets the plan of a room rather than fitting into one. Eighty inches of continuous curve wants to float, or to hold the long wall, and it seats two or three people facing one another rather than a screen.
The cocoa chenille, the walnut scrollwork and the brass tacks give it depth in low light, which suits a moody library, a vintage cinema room, or a mountain retreat looking out into the pines.
For a dealer or a designer the interest is that this is a commissioned studio piece with a known Tahoe estate history, not a production model, and there is no second one to be found.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
