Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Norwegian furniture manufacturer Vatne Møbler has a rich legacy underscored by visionary collaborations with iconic Norwegian furniture designers. The company’s mid-century modern and Scandinavian modern lounge chairs and armchairs are known for their quality leather upholstery that acquires a beautiful patina over time.
Vatne Møbler was established in 1946 by Knut Sæter in the village of Vatne, Norway. Sæter was an interior architect who studied at the Bergen School of Arts and Crafts. He designed and manufactured the company’s first pieces. In 1955, interior architect Gerhard Berg started working for Vatne Møbler. His designs — particularly for sofas — soon became popular.
Later in the 1950s, furniture designer Fredrik A. Kayser began creating pieces for Vatne Møbler. His furniture earned the company international acclaim. In 1960, Kayser’s 711 chair for Vatne Møbler won first place at an Industry Council chair competition.
After Kayser died in 1968, the company was overseen by interior designer Sigurd Resell. Resell’s most enduring contribution to Vatne Møbler was the 1970 Falcon armchair. The comfortable, leather-upholstered, X-framed chair came in second place at an Industry Council chair competition. In the 1970s, Resell designed a series of striking glass-topped Falcon coffee tables.
Vatne Møbler’s success lasted through the 1980s, a decade which included a collaboration with furniture designer Olav Eldøy. In 1989, the company encountered financial problems and was sold to Norwegian manufacturer Stokke AS.
In 2002, Knut Sæter’s son, Per Arne Sæter, reopened the family business by relaunching Kayser’s classic designs along with a new collection. Production shut down in 2008 due to the financial crisis, but started again in 2010.
In 2015, the grandson of Knut Sæter, Amund Sæter, published Møbeleventyret Vatne: Boken om Vatne Møbler 1946-1989, a book about the early history of Vatne Møbler. The company continues to operate the Vatne Møbler As store in Norway.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Vatne Møbler seating and tables.
Late 20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Birch
19th Century Polish Vienna Secession Antique Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
1980s German Post-Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Plastic, Birch, Bentwood
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Birch
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Rosewood
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Pine
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Naugahyde, Birch
20th Century Polish Vienna Secession Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood, Cane
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
1960s European Art Deco Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery
1950s French Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Beech
1960s American Bauhaus Vintage Vatne Møbler Dining Room Chairs
Patent Leather, Bentwood
