Charles Hollis Jones

Who is Charles Hollis Jones?

Charles Hollis Jones is an American artist and furniture designer who is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for his pioneering use of acrylic and lucite.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1945, Jones moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of 16 and founded CHJ Designs. At the time, acrylic and plastic were not commonly used as a material for upscale furiture and art, but Jones, seeing its potential, began creating unique pieces for some of the city's most renowned showrooms, such as Hudson-Rissman.

His work was well received by both art critics and Hollywood celebrities alike. Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Johnny Carson were among some of the first to commission Jones to design pieces for their homes. An aging Tennessee Williams commissioned Jones to design a comfortable, yet modern writing chair. The result was the Wisteria chair, where the writer spent much time when at home.

In the 1970s Jones crafted his award-winning Edison Lamp. Using original Thomas Edison light bulbs, Jones created a unique lamp with steel and lucite to show the inner workings of Edison's original technology. This won him the California Design 11 Competition and special recognition from the German government.