Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

Early Edition Danielle Quarante 'Albatros' Airborne France 1969 Space Age Design

About the Item

A beautiful original early edition "Albatros' Lounge Chair by French Female Designer Danielle Quarante for Airborne France 1969 This amazing chair was presented at the 1969 "Salon des Artistes Decorateurs" in Paris where Danielle Quaramnte received the Henri Mercier prize for best creation The "Albatros' was only produced in small quantities for about 7 years (1969-1975) This is a hard to find original paint example without any restorations History: Pierre Deligny (the writer of the book on Airborne) and a good friend of me wrote the following text on the history of this chair after extensive research "In 1969, at the Salon des artistes decorators, Danielle Quarante presented one of the most beautiful models of the decade, for which she received the Henri Mercier prize for the best creation: the Albatros armchair, which she said had 'represented as a sculptural gesture'. the curves react to each other, allowing the freedom of forms because the material itself offers resistance and elasticity. » The airy and round appearance is reminiscent of the flight of a stylized bird. The perfect design gives an impression of indisputable lightness with voluptuous and nervous curves and cutouts at the back of the backrest. It is a sculpture After a first sketch on paper, Danielle Quarante created a wire shape, then a 1/5 clay model, and finally a final resin model at real size. To obtain the mold for her prototype, she made initial tests in her cellar with a block of plaster which was disintegrating due to humidity. Finally, it was with a professional plasterer that she obtained a mold which would, a little later, be copied in resin. She offers it to Knoll, who takes photos... Finally, she shows up at Airborne with the Albatross wrapped in a black plastic bag, and when she extracts the white armchair from the black bag, the effect on Charles Bernard is immediate: Airborne will publish this chair! The manufacturing principle was quite simple: it was sufficient to pour the two half bowls in polyester resin, put them together and paint them with a gelcoat (three colors were chosen: orange, white and yellow). The compounds were treated hollow with a polyvinyl chloride adhesive applied during forming. The grainy appearance of the interior is the result of the technical impossibility of applying a Gelcoat. Although it was easy to pour, the Albatross was complicated to assemble and paint. A technical solution could have been found for mass production, but the overall appearance of the chair would have changed seriously. On the other hand, its public success seemed too uncertain to justify the necessary investments. So little will be produced, about twenty to thirty pieces per month, and the majority in white. The Albatross is now prominent in the permanent collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris and the Plastic Museum in Brussels. After the end of production in 1975, Danielle Quarante herself produced a blank edition of five numbered and signed copies." (Original text by Pierre Deligny and translated from French to English from the Airborne book published in 2012)
  • Creator:
    Danielle Quarante (Designer),Airborne (Manufacturer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27.17 in (69 cm)Width: 32.68 in (83 cm)Depth: 30.32 in (77 cm)Seat Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)
  • Style:
    Space Age (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1969
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Very honest original vintage condition with minor user wear consistent with age and use, a fine example for a collection!
  • Seller Location:
    bergen op zoom, NL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU930137033322
More From This SellerView All
  • Space Age Mohair “Orchidée” Lounge Chairs Michel Cadestin, Airborne, France 1968
    By Michel Cadestin, Airborne International
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Luxurious Mohair velvet upholstered Orchidée "lady & senior" lounge chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne International, France, 1968 “Orchidée” was one of the Cadestin models that were ordered by the Centre Pompidou Museum in Paris We fully restored these chairs with high quality 100% mohair wool velvet fabric "Musco" by De Ploeg In this process we preserved the old and original Airborne marked old upholstery from under the cushions and used it again The large model has 4 caster wheels to move the chair around in a space About the designer: Michel Cadestin was born in France in 1942. He is an interior designer and architect and through his work, he wishes to offer a functional and fun design accessible to the majority. A prolific designer, he has experienced with diverse forms and materials during his career. His creations are varied as evidenced by the furniture intended for the Center Georges Pompidou, such as the Karate armchair...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s French Space Age Lounge Chairs

    Materials

    Mohair, Foam, Fiberglass

  • Pair of Rare 60's Organic Curved Lounge Chairs by Airborne France New Upholstery
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Pair of rare 1960's organic curved lounge chairs by Airborne France fully restored with new foam and De Ploeg 'Monza' Boucle upholster...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

    Materials

    Metal

  • Extremely Rare Lounge Chairs Designed by Mangiarotti for the 'Casa Vitale' 1969
    By Angelo Mangiarotti
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Beautiful and extremely rare pair of sculptural form modular lounge chairs designed by architect, designer and sculptor Angelo Mangiarotti in 1969 for the 'Casa Vitale' in Milan, Ita...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s Italian Minimalist Sectional Sofas

    Materials

    Steel

  • 3 Sculptural Form 'Oro' Dining Chairs by Raoul Guys, 1951, Airborne, France
    By Raoul Guys
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Exquisite and extremely rare set of three 'oro' dining chairs designed by sculptor and designer Raoul Guys in 1951 for 'Airborne',France. These chairs were commissioned by Air Fr...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

    Materials

    Steel

  • First Edition P32 Lounge Set by Borsani, Early Triangulated Form Wire Base, 1956
    By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Stunning, rare early first edition 1956 "32" series lounge set by Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani for 'Tecno', Italy. This set comprises a pair of first edition 'P32' lounge and the extremely rare and rrarely seen matching first edition three seat 'D32' sofa. This early set also still retain their original solid brass 'Tecno' manufacturer's roundels (, the P'32' lounge chairs still retain their early first edition solid brass knurled spring adjusters. See image 5. A rare opportunity to acquire a complete first edition series '32' lounge set. The first edition of this series is disinguished by its elegant triangulated wire rod base which gives the base a sculptural quality that was somewhat lost in the second ediiton where the triangulated wire base was replaced by a more utilitarian and simplified three prong steel base of a heavier guage to replace the strength lost by the removal of the triangulation. This simplification of the second edition reduced overall production costs but in my opinon lost some of the visual appeal of the first edition chairs. This set have had their upholstery completely restored with new high quality Pantera foam and new rubber support webbing by the original italian manufacturer PIRELLI. The chairs and sofa have been finished in lovely high quality ' A perfect flower' fabric by italian textile manufacturer DEDAR. 'A perfect flower' by DEDAR has a hard-wearing wool texture poised between the perfect regularity of its warp and weft weaving and the natural exuberance of ondé yarn which ripples its surface. The black enamel finish on the chair bases and sofa legs have been left in their original condition to maintain some visual original period authenticity to this rare early set, these could easily be repainted should the buyer wish to do so. We have also left the brass hardware in its original patina for the same reason but these could also be polished. The 'P32' lounge chairs was presented in 'Tecno' manufacturer catalogs as a "swivel armchair with automatic repositioning mechanism, metal frame , adjustable back and spring, foam rubber padding and interchangeable covers available in a broad range of colors" This ingenious automatic repositioning mechanism means that you when sat in the seat you can swivel the chair through any angle between 0- 360 degrees for ease of conversation etc however when you stand up the seat will automatically return to its original position in order to "maintain order in the room". Dimensions: Lounge chairs:- 84 cm wide x 75 cm deep x 80 cm high, seating height 40 cm 33.1" wide x 29.5" deep x 31.5" high, seating height 15.7" Sofa:- 190 cm wide x 75 cm deep x 80 cm high, seating height 40 cm 74.8" wide x 29.5" deep x 31.5" high, seating height 15.7" LITERATURE: The 'P32' lounge chairs are published in :- 'Osvaldo Borsani', Gramigna and Irace, pg. 278-279 Domus, issue number 342, May 1958, , page 15 The 'D32' sofa is published in:- RIVISTA DELL ARREDAMENTO ,issue number 56, 1959 (original full page Tecno advert ) RIVISTA DELL ARREDAMENTO, issue number 115,1964 page 27...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

    Materials

    Metal, Brass

  • Seating as Minimalist Sculpture, 4 Elements by Uredat, 1969, Mohair Upholstery
    By COR, Klaus Uredat
    Located in bergen op zoom, NL
    Amazing, museum quality, modular 'CORBI' seating set, composed of four elements, designed by Klaus Uredat for 'COR', Germany, 1969 complete with the original purchase invoice dated 1972. After receiving many requests to do so, we have carefully unpicked and removed the original custom order pop art upholstery and have now recovered the set in a more neutral, high quality mohair upholstery. A rare, beautiful and highly sculptural pure elemental design, the large dimensions of each .Corbi' seating element allow for them to be used equally as either individual lounge chairs or as a modular sofa. This particular set is a must for serious collectors, this set comes complete with the original German purchase invoice from 1972, which also confirms the additional expense of the custom order upholstery, we have carefully unpicked and kept the original upholstery fabric should the buyer wish to retain it for provenance (please see photos 14 and 15 which illustrate the set with it's original upholstery). The sculptural 'Corbi' modular lounge chair was designed in 1969 and only remained in limited scale production for a few years up to circa 1974. Today this super elegant design is both very popular and now extremely difficult to find due to the passage of time and the limited total production numbers so a large set of elements such as this, is really a rare opportunity. Each 'Corbi' element is composed of two independent Minimalist sculptural forms, one base element and one cylindrical seat back. With the base elements positioned end to end, day beds may...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

    Materials

    Mohair, Foam, Wood

You May Also Like
  • Danielle Quarante ‘Albatros’ Chair for Airborne, 1969, Paris, France
    By Danielle Quarante
    Located in Jensen Beach, FL
    Presented at the “Salon des Artistes Décorateurs”, Paris 1969, a design by Danielle Quarante, titled ‘Albatros,’ executed in fiberglass with a gel coat finish. These came into my p...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s Club Chairs

    Materials

    Fiberglass, Paint

  • Vintage "Albatros" armchairs by Danielle Quarante
    By Danielle Quarante
    Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
    Pair of vintage "Albatros" in resin polyester reinforced with lacquered fiberglass, by Danièlle Quarante for Airborne. France, 1969 Dimensions: 68 x 88 x H 80 cm This model has bee...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Fiberglass, Polyester

  • Space age leather lounge chair by Airborne international, 1970s
    Located in HEVERLEE, BE
    Striking space age lounge chair by Airborne international. The chair consists of a white fiberglass shell upholstered with brown butonned leather. It sits as comfortable as it look...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s French Space Age Lounge Chairs

    Materials

    Leather, Fiberglass

  • Space Age Armchairs Karate by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
    By Michel Cadestin
    Located in Saarbrücken, SL
    Space age egg chairs - 1970s for Airborne Upholstered premium leather: Good condition with slight patina on the chrome.
    Category

    Vintage 1970s French Space Age Armchairs

    Materials

    Metal, Chrome

  • Space Age Karate Armchair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
    By Michel Cadestin
    Located in BAARLO, LI
    Beautiful Space Age armchair from the 1960s by Michel Cadestin for Airborne France. White fiberglass glossy shell with chromed metal base and cognac leather upholstery. The shell is ...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s French Space Age Armchairs

    Materials

    Leather, Fiberglass

  • Space Age 'Karate' Swiveling Fiberglass Shell Chairs by Michel Cadestin
    By Michel Cadestin
    Located in PEGO, ES
    Rare pair (priced INDIVIDUALLY) of 'Karate' swiveling fiberglass shell chairs by Michel Cadestin. These iconic chairs were designed circa 1970 by Michel Cadestin for French furnitu...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century French Space Age Lounge Chairs

    Materials

    Fabric, Fiberglass

Recently Viewed

View All