Low Back Chair in Oak & Reupholstered in Lambswool, Danish Mid Century, 1950s
View Similar Items
Low Back Chair in Oak & Reupholstered in Lambswool, Danish Mid Century, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Fritz Hansen (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 21.66 in (55 cm)Depth: 21.66 in (55 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950-1960
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Odense, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5686236153132
Fritz Hansen
When the Copenhagen-based furniture maker Fritz Hansen opened for business more than 140 years ago, the company — which today styles itself The Republic of Fritz Hansen — adhered to the traditional, time-honored Danish values of craftsmanship in woodworking and joinery. Yet thanks to the postwar innovations of Arne Jacobsen and others, Fritz Hansen would become the country’s leader in Scandinavian modern design using new, forward-looking materials and methods.
Fritz Hansen started his company in 1872, specializing in the manufacture of small furniture parts. In 1915, the firm became the first in Denmark to make chairs using steam-bent wood (a technique most familiar from birch used in the ubiquitous café chairs by Austrian maker Thonet). At the time, Fritz Hansen was best known for seating that featured curved legs and curlicue splats and referenced 18th-century Chippendale designs.
In the next few decades, the company promoted simple, plain chairs with slatted backs and cane or rush seats designed by such proto-modernist masters as Kaare Klint and Søren Hansen. Still, the most aesthetically striking piece Fritz Hansen produced in the first half of the 20th century was arguably the China chair of 1944 by Hans Wegner — and that piece, with its yoke-shaped bentwood back- and armrest, was based on seating manufactured in China during the Ming dynasty. (Wegner was moved by portraits he’d seen of Danish merchants in the Chinese chairs.)
Everything changed in 1952 with Arne Jacobsen’s Ant chair. The collaboration between the architect and Fritz Hansen officially originated in 1934 — that year, Jacobsen created his inaugural piece for the manufacturer, the solid beechwood Bellevue chair for a restaurant commission. The Ant chair, however, was the breakthrough.
With assistance from his then-apprentice Verner Panton, Jacobsen designed the Ant chair for the cafeteria of a Danish healthcare company called Novo Nordisk. The chair was composed of a seat and backrest formed from a single piece of molded plywood attached, in its original iteration, to three tubular metal legs. Its silhouette suggests the shape of the insect’s body, and the lightweight, stackable chair and its biomorphic form became an international hit.
Jacobsen followed with more plywood successes, such as the Grand Prix chair of 1957. The following year he designed the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen and its furnishings, including the Egg chair and the Swan chair. Those two upholstered pieces, with their lush, organic frames made of fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane, have become the two chairs most emblematic of mid-20th-century cool. Moreover, the Egg and Swan led Fritz Hansen to fully embrace new man-made materials, like foam, plastic and steel wire used to realize the avant-garde creations of later generations of designers with whom the firm collaborated, such as Piet Hein, Jørn Utzon (the architect of the Sydney Opera House) and Verner Panton. If the Fritz Hansen of 1872 would not now recognize his company, today’s connoisseurs certainly do.
Find a collection of vintage Fritz Hansen tables, lounge chairs, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Low Back Chair in Oak & Reupholstered in Lambswool, Danish Mid Century, 1950sLocated in Odense, DKPresenting an exquisite low back makeup chair crafted in the 1950s by a skilled Danish cabinetmaker. This chair is a harmonious combination of sophistication, functionality, and time...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLambskin, Wool, Oak
- An Elegant Danish Modern Low Back Chair, Reupholstered in Lambswool, 1940sBy Viggo Boesen, Flemming LassenLocated in Odense, DKPresenting an exquisite low back makeup / desk chair crafted in the 1940s by a gifted Danish cabinetmaker. This chair is a harmonious combination of sophistication, functionality, an...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsLambskin, Sheepskin, Beech
- Armchair in Solid Oak, Reupholstered in Lambswool, Danish Mid Century, 1950sLocated in Odense, DKA beautiful highback armchair in solid oak with seat reupholstered in lambswool. Crafted by a skillful Danish cabinetmaker during the mid-20th century. The chair's frame is meticulou...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLambskin, Wool, Oak
- Tall Stool in Oak, Reupholstered in Lambswool, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1950sBy Viggo Boesen, Flemming LassenLocated in Odense, DKDanish modern tall stool in oak with curly legs, reupholstered seat in long haired lambswool. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in circa 1950s. A great object for the Scandinavian int...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsWool, Oak
- A set of 8 Dining Chairs in Oak and Lambswool, Danish Modern, Kaj Gottlob, 1950sBy Jacob Kjaer, Kaj Gottlob, A. J. Iversen, Kaare KlintLocated in Odense, DKA rare set of 8 classic dining chairs, attributed to Kaj Gottlob for Fritz Hansen. Made in the 1940 - 1950s. Newly reupholstered in a great quality shearling lambswool, elegant shape...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Chairs
MaterialsLambskin, Oak
- A set of 6 Dining Chairs in Oak and Lambswool, Danish Modern, Kaj Gottlob, 1950sBy Jacob Kjaer, Kaj Gottlob, Kaare Klint, A. J. IversenLocated in Odense, DKA rare set of 6 classic dining chairs / desk chairs, attributed to Kaj Gottlob for Fritz Hansen. Made in the 1940 - 1950s. Newly reupholstered in a great quality shearling lambswool,...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Chairs
MaterialsOak, Lambskin
- Danish 1950s Low Back Lounge Chair by Fritz HansenBy Fritz HansenLocated in Bridgeport, CTBeautiful 1950s Danish easy chair by Fritz Hansen. Very elegant with a sculptural organic shape and harmonious proportions and size making it very versatile and well suited for today...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Beech
- 1950s Danish Leather High Back Lounge ChairBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Turners Falls, MASculptural Danish Leather High Back Lounge Chair. Original black leather. Nailed head details. Beech wood legs. 1950’s. Denmark.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Danish Modern Wingback Chair in Oak & Traditional Danish Olmerdug Wool, 1950sBy Henning KjærnulfLocated in Odense, DKWonderful and large Danish Modern wingback chair hand made by a cabinetmaker in Denmark in the 1950s. Great dramatic angles and proportion...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsOak, Wool
- Danish Modern Lounge Chair in Oak & Traditional Danish Olmerdug Wool, 1950sBy Henning KjærnulfLocated in Odense, DKWonderful large Danish Modern lounge chair hand made by a cabinetmaker in Denmark in the 1950s. Great dramatic angles and proportions with carved wooden armrests and legs made of sol...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsWool, Oak
- 1950s Scandinavian Modern Pivot Back Oak Dining ChairsLocated in Sagaponack, NYAn oak dining chair with a pivoting backrest and upholstered seat. Two chairs available with arms (24" W) and four without arms (20" W).Category
Vintage 1950s European Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Danish mid-century modern Chair in orange velvet and dark wood, 1950sLocated in MIlano, ITDanish mid-century modern Chair in orange velvet and dark wood, 1950s Chair with curved back and seat, padded and covered in bright orange velvet fabric. The edges are finished with ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood