Russell Spanner
Canadian furniture designer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russell Spanner (1916–1974) was a Canadian designer who contributed to residential furniture designs in the 1950s.
Russell Spanner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1916 |
| Died | 1974 (aged 57–58) |
| Occupation | Canadian designer |
| Known for | residential furniture design |
Spanner's designs included dining and lounge chairs, tables, and modular storage units. The designs were manufactured at Spanner Products Limited, the family-owned woodworking company in Toronto, Canada, which was founded by his grandfather.[1] His furniture lines were sold and distributed at department store chains and independent merchants.[2]
"The Ruspan Originals line was boxy and geometric, but most of all it was simple, functional and modern, all qualities that appealed to young post-war couples buying furniture for their new houses or apartments."[3] Spanner's designs utilized innovative manufacturing techniques such as curved plywood and non-upholstered, woven-web seating. Many of the designs reused components and shared consistent proportions, which gave his work a characteristic aesthetic. Among his three residential furniture lines (Ruspan Originals, Catalina, and Pasadena) the Lounge Chair with Arms has been described as the "best-known and most desirable" design.[4]
Spanner was an amateur wrestling champion,[5] and was known to test the strength of his designs by jumping on them and throwing them across the factory floor.[6]
