Hans J. Wegner Flag Halyard Chair "Model Ge-225" for GETAMA, Denmark 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Utrecht, NL
When this iconic model was released in 1950, the unusual combination of rope, white-varnished steel and sheepskin had never been seen before in the furniture industry. It was a way for Hans Wegner to demonstrate his ability to design innovative, practical and comfortable furniture with every possible material.
Unveiled in Copenhagen in 1950 at an exhibition at the Designmuseum Danmark, the design received mixed reviews. Kaare Klint famously likened it to something from a gynaecologist’s office. But from the jump, fashion people fawned. It was splashed across magazines, models posing on its tightly wound string seat.
The Flaglinestol or Flag Halyard string-wrapped lounge chair quickly became a 21st-century icon. The story goes that in 1949 Wegner was at the beach, digging himself into the sand when he found the perfect lean-back position for seaside repose, which inspired him to make it in something more sturdy. This gave birth to this chair with its famous steel frame wrapped in rope commonly used for flagpoles. The ergonomic, spaceship-like form still looks innovative despite being over 70 years old. The bottom frame is made of a white-varnished steel structure with beechwood leg caps. The legs are splayed with the front ones connected by a stretcher, establishing the firm base for the body. The top-frame is made of chrome-plated steel that serves as the frame for the stretched halyard. Halyard rope, or flagpole rope, is traditionally used to raise and lower a flag on most external halyard flagpoles. The unusual combination of materials is continued by the cognac leather head pillow secured to the back. The chair is cosied up with sheepskin that - along with the headrest - softens the industrial shape of the steel.
This iconic Wegner model was already presented at The Arts & Crafts Spring Exhibition at Designmuseum Danmark in 1950. For several decades it was manufactured by Danish brand Getama in small quantities. In the late ’80s it went out of production altogether. PP Møbler...
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs