Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
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 Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Textile, Oak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Beech
Mid-20th Century French Victorian Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Metal
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Beech
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1940s American Vintage Jan Vanek Wingback Chairs
Linen, Mahogany, Upholstery