Otto Zapf Sectional Sofas

Here we have a very rare opportunity, a large set of nine Otto Zapf 1967 'sofalette' modular seating elements in matching original leather complete with the original and usually missing loose cushions. The high quality thick fibreglass bases, all in good condition ,even bear the original workshop's production marks confirming this set was produced by the Zapf workshop in 1973. The 'sofalette' system is completely modular in that you can rearrange the nine seating elements into any possible configuration and combination from a 9 seat sofa to three three seater sofas, to a pair of lounge chairs and a 4 and 3 seat sofa to nine lounge chairs and any configuration in between. This rare matching set really is in excellent vintage condition benefitting from the fact that this set has only had one owner from new. The leather has no holes or tears and its only flaw is some slight UV yellowing in a few areas which add to the lovely vintage patina. 99% of the 'sofalette' series were produced in patterned fabrics ,de rigueur, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a very small proportion were ordered in the expensive and for those times subdued and elegant optional leather. To find one element in original leather is difficult but to find a complete original set of nine matching leather elements in excellent condition is like finding the proverbial hen's teeth. The super elegant and minimal sculptural form is fully complemented by the pale cream leather, a sculptural form which is usually lost in the "noise" of a mass of patterned fabric, in leather as seen here the design really sings out. Otto Zapf began his design career by joining the iconic Braun company in 1955 where he met colleague Dieter Rams, in 1957 they formed their own design firm, 'RZ-furniture Vertriebs GmbH', where they developed the concept to design modular furniture that could be expanded as desired and that you could install yourself and that would be easy to transport, a concept you can see take form with the sofalette series and Ram's later iconic Vitsoe 606 shelving system...