Hans Wegner Pair of Lounge Chairs for Getama, Denmark, 1950s
View Similar Items
Hans Wegner Pair of Lounge Chairs for Getama, Denmark, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:GETAMA (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.99 in (66 cm)Width: 27.17 in (69 cm)Depth: 25.99 in (66 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Maastricht, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: Cl.lk.wegner.m.1504ab1stDibs: LU930425360262
GETAMA
The story of how GETAMA got its name is perhaps as unique as the range of subdued but sophisticated Scandinavian modern furniture for which the manufacturer is known (thanks to a partnership with Hans Wegner).
In the late 1890s in the Danish town of Gedsted, a young cabinetmaker by the name of Carl Pedersen opted to use seaweed — rather than the traditional heather or straw — as mattress stuffing. Pedersen named his new factory Gedsted Tang-og Madrasfabrik (the “Gedsted Seaweed and Mattress Factory”), which he abbreviated to GETAMA. Seaweed’s fire-retardant properties make it an excellent and safe upholstery material for mattresses, chairs and sofas. Pedersen leveraged this quality as a selling point — the abundance of seaweed on the shores of Denmark and its weightlessness added to its appeal as an economical but durable upholstery filling for all kinds of furnishings. The crowning quality was its softness.
GETAMA’s seaweed mattresses proved so popular for their comfort and durability that Pedersen had to expand into a larger factory within the first year. He felt almost obligated to launch a line of bedroom furniture to accompany his much-loved mattresses.
The working relationship established in 1959 between Hans Wegner and GETAMA afforded the company the opportunity to break into the international market. Wegner — a legendary Danish carpenter and furniture designer revered by mid-century modern collectors everywhere — became one of the brand’s principal designers and often spent a great deal of time at the factory — refining and adjusting each new piece until he felt satisfied that it was ready for production. For decades, Wegner’s impressive contributions to GETAMA’s daybeds, lounge chairs, sofas and dining room tables became the backbone of the company’s sales.
Over the years, other designers entered into working agreements with GETAMA, including Nissen & Gehl, OM Design, 2R Design, Blum and Balle, and Jørgen Gammelgaard. Copenhagen native Nanna Ditzel, a Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alum who trained under Kaare Klint, designed GETAMA’s Mondial coffee table. Alongside her husband, Jørgen Ditzel, she also created the sensuously curvy and wildly popular Ring chair.
Today, the sleek modern furniture that GETAMA manufactures is still inclusive of their lauded mattresses.
On 1stDibs, find vintage GETAMA seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
- Hans Wegner for Getama Leather Lounge Chairs - a PairBy GETAMALocated in West Palm Beach, FLPair of leather and teak lounge chairs by Hans Wegner for Getama. Model GE-280. Signed. Teak frames have been refinished and the leather upholstery has been updated. Would work we...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Hans J. Wegner Flag Halyard Chair "Model Ge-225" for GETAMA, Denmark 1950sBy Hans J. Wegner, GETAMALocated in Utrecht, NLWhen this iconic model was released in 1950, the unusual combination of rope, white-varnished steel and sheepskin had never been seen before in the furniture industry. It was a way for Hans Wegner to demonstrate his ability to design innovative, practical and comfortable furniture with every possible material. Unveiled in Copenhagen in 1950 at an exhibition at the Designmuseum Danmark, the design received mixed reviews. Kaare Klint famously likened it to something from a gynaecologist’s office. But from the jump, fashion people fawned. It was splashed across magazines, models posing on its tightly wound string seat. The Flaglinestol or Flag Halyard string-wrapped lounge chair quickly became a 21st-century icon. The story goes that in 1949 Wegner was at the beach, digging himself into the sand when he found the perfect lean-back position for seaside repose, which inspired him to make it in something more sturdy. This gave birth to this chair with its famous steel frame wrapped in rope commonly used for flagpoles. The ergonomic, spaceship-like form still looks innovative despite being over 70 years old. The bottom frame is made of a white-varnished steel structure with beechwood leg caps. The legs are splayed with the front ones connected by a stretcher, establishing the firm base for the body. The top-frame is made of chrome-plated steel that serves as the frame for the stretched halyard. Halyard rope, or flagpole rope, is traditionally used to raise and lower a flag on most external halyard flagpoles. The unusual combination of materials is continued by the cognac leather head pillow secured to the back. The chair is cosied up with sheepskin that - along with the headrest - softens the industrial shape of the steel. This iconic Wegner model was already presented at The Arts & Crafts Spring Exhibition at Designmuseum Danmark in 1950. For several decades it was manufactured by Danish brand Getama in small quantities. In the late ’80s it went out of production altogether. PP Møbler...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Original Hans Wegner Cigar Chair Made in Denmark for GETAMA c 1950'sBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in New York, NYThe definition of iconic, this classic Mid Century Danish Modern lounge chair, is known as The Cigar Chair, it was designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA. This example was produced in D...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Early Production Hans Wegner Getama GE-240 Lounge Chair / DenmarkBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Buffalo, NYEarly production Hans Wegner for Getama GE-240 lounge chair, sometimes called the Cigar series because of the shape of the arm. Teak arms with oak body. Somewhat beefier than the GE-...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak, Teak
- Pair of Lounge Easy Chairs by Hans J. Wegner for Getama GE 290 oak, Denmark 190By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMALocated in Berlin, DEA beautiful pair of Lounge Easy Chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA GE 290, made in Denmark. These chairs are in excellent condition. The oakwood frame has developed a beaut...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Lounge Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Early Pair of Oak 'GE-290' Lounge Chairs by Hans Wegner for Getama, 1953By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMALocated in Antwerpen, VANStraight from Denmark comes this original pair of lounge chairs designed in 1953 by the master himself, Hans J. Wegner. This is model ‘GE-290’ with solid oak frames and the original ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Oak
$7,425 Sale Price / set20% Off