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Swiss Mid-Century Modern Leather and Oak Safari Chair by Wilhelm Kienzle

About the Item

LEATHER AND OAK "SAFARI" CHAIR Designed by Wilhelm Kienzle in 1928, manufactured by Wohnbedarf, Switzerland circa 1950 Item # 405ZPF07Q-2 Designed in 1928 by Wilhelm Kienzle, the "Safari" chair stands as a stunning and iconic piece. An example is held in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Executed by Wohnbedarf of Zurich, Switzerland in the 1950s, the chair is made from solid oak and featuring thick-cut rawhide leather sling seating. The leather showcases a captivating patina, marked by stains and oils accumulated over years of use. With its original and untouched condition, this chair represents a remarkable blend of clever design, exceptional craftsmanship, and remarkable comfort and support. In writing about the chair in the Vitra Design Museum, Claude Lichtenstein notes: "This dismountable chair was created by the Swiss designer Wilhelm Kienzle. It is an adaptation of a model used in the nineteenth century by British colonial officials during their work-related travels, which Kienzle had seen in London in 1928. Its advantages are that it is lightweight and takes up little space. The chair’s legs are connected by round bars, which are inserted into the open seam of the seat cover (in copies with the original cover). Similarly, the cover is affixed to the movable backrest, which is attached to the upper ends of the back legs with a pivot pin. The leather strap armrests are fastened to the legs with brass buttons. Since the chair’s frame is not independently stable, leather straps stretched between the chair legs bear the lateral load of the seated individual. In the interwar period, others – such as the Danish designer Kaare Klint in 1933 – created variants of this chair type. Kienzle’s design most likely was not mass-produced until after 1945 by the Swiss interior design company Wohnbedarf. In the post-war period it became the very embodiment of a non-conformist lifestyle." We have several examples of this model in leather and oak by Wilhelm Kienzle in the shop - if you are looking for a pair to this, just browse our inventory or let us know and we can check current stock for you. ** NOTE, unless otherwise requested and quoted, the chairs will ship entirely disassembled to keep shipping costs down for our clients. This means some reassembly of the chairs is required upon receipt. ** Measurements: 35 3/8" H x 22 1/4" D x 22 1/4" W x 14 1/2" H to seat Condition Report: The original leather stained and discolored with a wonderful overall patina, remarkably comfortable and most enjoyable to sit in; darkening and overall oxidization along with light wear to the oak surface; some minor white marks (likely from rubbing the wall) that can be removed upon request; rubbing and wear to the leather inside the back where the wing nuts attach; some dryness and cracking to the leather belting as well as the arm straps. A very fine example that is beautifully preserved with rich surface history. About silla antiques & art Established in 2009, we have available in our 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery an ever-changing selection of carefully curated and catalogued furniture, decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and estate jewelry. Our company has long specialized in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display. The gallery is located at 117 W Burd Street in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and is open by appointment only. We welcome your visit and would love to meet with you at the shop. For clients located outside of the area, we are always available to discuss items by video conferencing or by phone.
  • Creator:
    Wilhelm Kienzle (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35.38 in (89.87 cm)Width: 22.25 in (56.52 cm)Depth: 22.25 in (56.52 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Brass,Leather,Oak
  • Place of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Period:
    20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950
  • Condition:
    Replacements made: See condition notes. Repaired: See condition notes.
  • Seller Location:
    Shippensburg, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 405ZPF07Q-21stDibs: LU1059040264522

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