Normandy House bench

Edgar Miller
c. 1937
Carved wood
H 1.0, L 0.5, W 2.15 m

One of Miller's masterpieces in wood, this bench was executed for The Normandy House restaurant at 800 Tower Court, right across the street from the Chicago Water Tower. Miller and his second family lived in an apartment upstairs from the restaurant for many years from 1937 to 1953. He turned the restaurant into an artistic, Medieval European Shangri-La, executing everything from stained glass windows to murals to the menus, placemats and business cards to the servers’ uniforms. This bench was part of a pair that were made for the "main table" which was centrally placed and where VIPs would feast and be merry.