Jan Vanek Stools
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.
1940s Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Canvas, Oak
1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Canvas, Oak
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Oak
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Sheepskin, Wood
1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Canvas, Oak
1940s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Canvas, Oak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Cane, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Upholstery
1930s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Wood
1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Birch, Bentwood, Plywood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Spanish Industrial Jan Vanek Stools
Oak, Wood
Mid-20th Century Arts and Crafts Jan Vanek Stools
Rope, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Jan Vanek Stools
Upholstery, Bentwood
1940s Czech Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Cotton, Wood
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Cotton, Oak
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Cotton, Wood
1940s Czech Art Deco Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Oak
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer, Oak
1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Stools
Fabric, Wood