Jan Vanek Sofas
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.
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Sofas
Wood, Beech
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Sofas
Beech, Fabric, Wood, Lacquer, Upholstery
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Sofas
Mohair, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jan Vanek Sofas
Fabric
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Iron
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Fabric
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Velvet, Wood
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Canvas, Upholstery, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jan Vanek Sofas
Leather
1930s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Fabric, Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique Jan Vanek Sofas
Bronze
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Canvas, Upholstery, Oak
1950s Italian Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Iron
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Sofas
Fabric, Beech
