The
Molar Group was conceived as inexpensive, lightweight furniture for a
mass audience. Castle created his own inexpensive one-piece molds into
which workers first sprayed a thin layer of polyester color (or gel coat)
then a mixture of fiberglass-reinforced polyester. The finished piece
was popped out of the mold after the plastic had hardened. Castle also
preferred one-piece molds as they produced bulbous forms that sat on the
ground like rocks, a natural metaphor he wanted for aesthetic reasons.
Eventually comprising settees, chairs, shelves, and tables, the Molar
Group was marketed and sold primarily by Beylerian, Ltd., who subcontracted
the manufacturing of the furniture to a factory in Syracuse.
"Molar
Group" upholstered armchair designed and manufactured by Wendell
Castle, Rochester, NY, circa 1969. Gel-coated fiberglass-reinforced plastic
with upholstery. Unique piece reconstructed from original molds.