Elegance describes the designs of Jan Vanek.
Influenced by his family’s furniture company, Vandek studied woodworking. Following a stint in Germany, where he advanced his skills at established firms in Munich, Stuttgart and Heilbronn, he returned home to the former Czechoslovakia and took over the family business, which in 1920 became known as Spojené Uměleckoprůmyslové Závody, or UP Závody.
Vanek's early friendships and collaborations with architectural and design greats like Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Adolf Loos and others likely had much to do with his graceful style, best exemplified by his 1930s bentwood chairs, with the arabesque curves of their arms and legs conjoining to form open, dynamic loops.
True to Czech standards for uniformity, Vanek scarcely altered the design over decades of production, though he did gradually modernize his frames: His 1950s models are more angular, industrialized — and very definitely modern.
Find a collection of vintage Jan Vanek furniture today on 1stDibs.
Jan Vanek's curved easy chairs curved oak, canvas and original upholstery 1950s
By Jan Vanek
Located in Almelo, NL
Jan Vanek's pair of two curved easy chairs with curved oak, canvas, and original upholstery, CZ 1960s Jan Vanek's pair of two curved easy chairs, crafted from oak and featuring wove...
Canvas, Upholstery, Oak
$1,198Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Four Dining Chairs by Jan Vaněk, 1955
By Jan Vanek
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia - made of beechwood - good original condition.
Fabric, Beech
Jan Vanek's curved easy chairs curved oak, canvas and original upholstery 1950
By Jan Vanek
Located in Almelo, NL
Jan Vanek's pair of two curved easy chairs curved oak, canvas and original upholstery, CZ 1960s Jan Vanek's pair of two curved easy chairs, crafted from oak and featuring woven canv...
Canvas, Upholstery, Oak
$3,159Sale Price / set|20% Off
Ultra Rare Set of Film Inventory Armchairs by Jan Vanek, 1950s
By Jan Vanek
Located in Praha, CZ
Unique set of two armchairs custom made for Czech movie "Angel on the Mountains" marked as film inventory. This is part of Czech film history! Timeless de...
Fabric, Beech
Pair of Bentwood Armchairs by Jan Vanek for UP Zavodny, 1930s
By Jan Vanek
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of bentwood armchairs by Jan Vanek for UP Zavodny, 1930s.
Bentwood
Set of Four Swedish Midcentury Dining Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
MCM set of four Swedish modern high-back dining chairs in beech. The tall ergonomic backs slightly bow and lend to hours of comfortable dining for those long dinner parties and holid...
Upholstery
$5,808
H 32.29 in W 24.81 in D 17.33 in
Rare Armchair by Jedrachowicz Racinowski, 345 Type, 1950s, Poland
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Extremely rare model 345 armchair designed by two students of interior design, Janina Jedrachowicz and Konrad Racinowski in the mid-1950s and briefly produced by Poznanskie Zaklady M...
Textile, Beech
$10,455 / set
H 32.29 in W 24.81 in D 17.33 in
Set of Two Rare Armchairs, Jedrachowicz Racinowski, 345 Type, 1950s, Poland
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Extremely rare model 345 armchairs designed by two students of interior design, Janina Jedrachowicz and Konrad Racinowski in the mid-1950s and briefly produced by Poznanskie Zaklady ...
Textile, Beech
$3,427 / set
H 30.71 in W 23.63 in D 29.14 in
Pair of Bent Beechwood Armchairs, Design Jan Vaněk, 1930's.
By Jan Vanek
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Fabric,Beechwood Good Original condition
Fabric, Wood, Beech
Set of Four Dining Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four Art Deco style dining chairs. Simple sculpted wood backs with thick cushion seats. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Wood
Set of Four Woodard Dining Chairs
By Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 modernist outdoor chairs patio chairs, attributed to Woodard. These chairs are in very good condition, free of breaks, bends or repairs, currently in later brown paint finis...
Wrought Iron
Set of Four Vintage Dining Room Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous set of four vintage chairs, perfect for a dining room or similar setting. Vinyl upholstery and comfortable cushioning is combined with metal backs for seating that is stylis...
Metal
Set of 8 "Albenga" dining chairs, Arflex, Italy, 1955.
By Arflex, Gustavo Pulitzer Finali
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of 8 Albenga dining chairs, Arflex, Italy, 1955. This model was specifically designed for the interior of an Italian ocean liner. The chairs feature a lacquered metal frame; the ...
Brass
Set of four pine dining chairs by Daumiller, 1970s
By Rainer Daumiller
Located in Hilversum, NL
Designed by Richard Daumiller and produced around 1970, this set of four pieces is crafted from solid untreated pinewood and is in beautiful, original condition.
Pine
Set of Four Gilt Metal Dining Chairs
By John Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Four matching armless high back cafe style dining chairs. Gold tone over iron base frame, with woven metal backrests and seats. Please note we are also offering, separately, the mat...
Iron
Set of Four Vintage Dining Room Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of four vintage dining chairs pair a light wood grain with warm red upholstery on cushioned seats. A minimal Mid-Century design for...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,292Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 24.41 in D 30.71 in
Jan Vanek Bentwood Lounge Chair, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
By Jan Vanek
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare bentwood lounge chair designed by Jan Vanek and produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. This striking piece features a sculptural ebonized beechwood frame with fluid curved...
Other
1950s Oak Armchair by Jan Vanek, Czechoslovakia
By Jan Vanek
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - finished by shellac - Original fabric strips in good condition.
Fabric, Oak