In the late 1960s, architect Frank Gehry began experimenting with unconventional materials in search of new, affordable approaches to design. One of his most significant breakthroughs came with the Easy Edges furniture series (1969–1973), a line of sculptural chairs and tables made from layers of industrial corrugated cardboard. Lightweight yet surprisingly durable, the pieces challenged traditional notions of luxury and formality in furniture design. Their raw, textured edges and geometric curves echoed Gehry’s interest in architecture that embraced imperfection and material honesty. The Easy Edges line quickly garnered critical acclaim and marked an early moment in Gehry’s career where his architectural and design thinking converged in three-dimensional, functional objects.
Central to the realization of Easy Edges was Jack Brogan, a master fabricator and longtime collaborator of Gehry's. Brogan, known for his technical ingenuity and deep understanding of materials, worked closely with artists and designers to bring complex ideas into physical form. With Easy Edges, Brogan helped refine the manufacturing process, ensuring that the cardboard layers could be shaped and laminated without compromising structural integrity. The collaboration exemplified the synergy between Gehry’s conceptual boldness and Brogan’s hands-on expertise. Though Gehry later moved away from furniture design to focus on his groundbreaking architecture, Easy Edges remains an iconic example of 20th-century design—celebrated for its wit, accessibility, and material innovation.
Wright is honored to present a selection of Easy Edges pieces from Jack Brogan's estate, including two rare prototypes.
Frank Gehry b. 1929
Frank Gehry was born on February 28, 1929 in Toronto, Canada. His family moved to Los Angeles where Gehry would attend the University of Southern California earning his bachelor degree in architecture in 1954. In 1956 Gehry moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to study city planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design where he completed only two years of the program before returning to Los Angeles. Back in California, Gehry worked for Hideo Sasaki, Pereira & Luckman, Victor Gruen & Associates and André Remondet before starting his own firm, Frank Gehry and Associates in 1962.
Early projects in his career, such as his Easy Edges furniture line (1969-1973) comprised of chairs, stools and tables made of stacked corrugated cardboard, and his 1978 remodel of his Santa Monica residence using industrial items such as chain-link fencing, corrugated metal, wire-reinforced glass and plywood exhibit Gehry’s innovative use of materials and originality in form. By the 1980s Gehry was established in the field and in 1989 he was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize for his experimental and extraordinary approach to design. Gehry rose to fame with important structures and projects such as the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (1997) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles (2003). Today Gehry is well-known for his distinct, artistic style.
Auction Results Frank Gehry
