Charles B. Chatfield

1870 - 1950

Charles B. Chatfield studied architecture in his home city of Washington D.C. He came to Grand Rapids in 1889 and entered the employ of a local architect. The leading designer here in those days was David W. Kendall, and the following year Chatfield accepted a position as Mr. Kendall’s assistant with whom he worked for two years helping to design the Phoenix line. With the exception of one year when he reverted to straight architecture, he was been intimately identified with the furniture designing profession. When Charles Retting started the Retting & Sweet Company in 1895, Chatfield built the first line, and he remained with that company for nine years where he produced English and French period styel furniture. After that he conducted own studio in Grand Rapids. He died, May 11, 1950.