“THE ART OF SEATING”: This 19th century centripetal spring arm chair designed by Thomas E. Warren is part of “The Art of Seating: Two Hundred Years of American Design,” an exhibition showcasing a private collection of iconic and historic chairs reaching from the 1800s to the present. It is on view at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., through May 5.

The James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., now presents “The Art of Seating: Two Hundred Years of American Design,” an exhibition showcasing a comprehensive private collection of iconic and historic chairs reaching from the 1800s to today’s Studio Movement. Developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C, these works of art have stories to tell about our national history, the evolution of American design, and artistry and craftsmanship. The exhibition will be on view through May 5.

Most chairs encountered throughout the day define themselves fairly simply — a place at the family table, a comfortable spot with a great view, a seat of corporate power. When looking at the more than 40 chairs selected for “The Art of Seating: Two Hundred Years of American Design,” however, there is much more to see than simple pieces of furniture. Organized by Ben Thompson, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, “The Art of Seating” takes the viewer into the design studio through patent drawings, documented upholstery, artist renderings, and multimedia presentations. Selections from the Jacobsen Collection of American Art offer a stylistic journey in furniture with pieces by John Henry Belter, George Hunzinger, the Herter Brothers, the Stickley Brothers, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi, Frank Gehry, and others waiting to be discovered. The exhibition also features contemporary and historic designs produced by such manufacturers as Knoll, Herman Miller, and Steelcase.

Also on view from March 2 to June 9 at the Michener is “Nakashima Looks: Studio Furniture,” guest curated by Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, daughter of internationally renowned woodworker George Nakashima and president of George Nakashima Woodworkers, SA. Rooted in the museum’s deep commitment to George Nakashima’s legacy, the Michener has continued to collect and exhibit modern and contemporary craft, including fine examples of Mira Nakashima’s own work alongside those of her father. “Nakashima Looks” highlights the Michener’s long-standing focus on Studio Furniture, while providing a window to the museum’s future direction.

“Presenting two such remarkable exhibitions simultaneously gives the Michener a dynamic platform from which to explore — and expand upon — the role that the Bucks County region holds in the history of American design,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, executive director of the Michener Art Museum. “The early 1900s were pivotal in establishing this region as one of the cultural hubs of the studio craft movement; craftspeople like Frederick Harer, George Nakashima, Paul Evans, and Phillip Lloyd Powell brought international attention to the work being produced here. ‘Nakashima Looks’ will shed new light on works in the Michener’s permanent collection, using them to both enhance and elucidate the history on display in ‘The Art of Seating.’”

The Michener Art Museum is at 138 South Pine Street inDoylestown, Pa. For more information, call (215) 340-9800 or visit the website at www.michenerartmuseum.org.