Sam Maloof was an exceptional American fine woodworker, considered one of the greatest furniture makers of the 20th century.
Born in 1916 in California and passing away in 2009, he became famous for his unique approach to furniture design, combining functionality and organic beauty. His style was characterized by fluid and sensuous curves, hand-sculpted, which made his pieces both elegant and extraordinarily comfortable.
His most iconic creation is undoubtedly his rocking chair. Each piece was unique, handmade in his workshop, with meticulous attention to detail and quality.
What distinguished Maloof is that he worked primarily alone or with a small team, refusing mass production. He mainly used black walnut, a noble wood par excellence, and created oil finishes that revealed the natural beauty of the wood.
In 1985, he became the first woodworker to receive the prestigious MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. His works are now in major museum collections and highly sought after by collectors.
