Post-Modern TOTEM Chair by Torstein Nilsen for Westnofa

$711.62

About the Item

This rare chair was designed in Norway in 1984 by Torstein Nilsen for Westnofa. The chair is of very luxurious and high quality and made of natural oak, lacquered in black. The loose legs of the 'fan shape' in the backrest are 'connected' to each other with solid wooden spheres. The chair has a beautiful sculptural form and is a good example of Scandinavian Modernism, the Memphis Group and architectural Postmodernism. Perhaps a little unexpected, but it is also very comfortable with its slightly curved ergonomic backrest and comfortable seat. In good vintage condition, with very light signs of use. The original label/tag is still attached!.

Creator:
Westnofa Furniture (Manufacturer),Torstein Nilsen (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 21.66 in (55 cm)Depth: 22.05 in (56 cm)
Style:
Post-Modern (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Leather,Oak,Lacquered
Place of Origin:
Norway
Period:
1980-1989
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1984
Condition:
Seller Location:
BAARLO, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU7521231098962
View Invoice

Shop All Westnofa Furniture

Westnofa Furniture

While Norway comprises something of an unsung chapter in the history of Scandinavian modernism, an export company called Westnofa shouldn’t be overlooked. It represented a collective of the country’s leading manufacturers to promote and export their furniture worldwide. Westnofa was key to the success of Norway’s mid-century designers and furniture brands, and fostered the growth of entities that might otherwise be unknown to today’s design aficionados.

Norway’s furniture factories were largely destroyed during World War II, and while the country’s sophisticated works — designed in teak, pine and other prized woods — had earned a place in Scandinavian modernism, its output was overshadowed by big names such as Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen who’d earned icon status in Finland and Denmark, respectively. Westnofa, a name derived from “West Norway Factories,” took shape in the late 1950s in order to circumvent the limitations that the country’s furniture industry had faced in the areas of marketing and production. Some of the manufacturers connected to Westnofa were P.I. Langlo Møbelfabrikk, Ekornes, Stokke and Vestlandske.

Westnofa took great pains to devise the most cost-effective and efficient method of packing and shipping worldwide. Flat-pack assembly for lightweight shipping was the result. In neighboring Sweden during the late 1940s, DUX president and furniture designer Folke Ohlsson put the same idea into practice. Flat-pack assembly saved space in warehouses and money on transportation. It’s a breakthrough that survives today — namely at popular Swedish brand IKEA.

While it’s unclear if Westnofa also produced furniture in addition to exporting the goods of a group of manufacturers, some of the more well-known designers that are today mentioned alongside the company include Ingmar Relling, Torstein Nilsen and Jens Nielsen. Relling is best known for seating and his most famous piece associated with Westnofa is his high-backed Siesta chair, which features supple leather cushions atop a bentwood frame. Torstein Nilsen designed an elegant glass-topped bentwood dining table that is also commonly linked with Westnofa. Jens Nielsen created minimalist, sculptural lounge chairs in birch and plywood that are connected with the Westnofa name.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Westnofa seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.