Pair of “1590” Easy Chairs by Fritz Hansen, Denmark 1940
View Similar Items
Pair of “1590” Easy Chairs by Fritz Hansen, Denmark 1940
About the Item
- Creator:Fritz Hansen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.32 in (77 cm)Width: 27.56 in (70 cm)Depth: 32.68 in (83 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Amsterdam, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: m275681stDibs: LU1039838787882
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.
- Pair of PK22 Chairs by Poul Kjaerholm for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 2010By Poul KjærholmLocated in Amsterdam, NLA stunning pair of PK22 lounge chairs designed by Poul Kjaerholm, manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark in 2010. This amazing set is made of high quality chrome plated metal holdi...Category
2010s Danish Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Airport Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, circa 1960By Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Amsterdam, NLStunning "Airport" chair by Arne Jacobsen, manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark, circa 1960. The chair has high quality chrome metal base and yellow or green fabric upholstery....Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsChrome, Metal
- 1950s “3217” Swivel desk chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, DenmarkBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Amsterdam, NLA beautiful swivel desk chair, model “3217”, designed by Arne Jacobsen and manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark around 1960. This highly recognizable piece has a chrome plated tu...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Spokeback Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1963By Hans J. Wegner, Fritz HansenLocated in Amsterdam, NLBeautiful spokeback sofa designed by Børge Mogensen, manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark, 1963. This piece is made of high quality beechwood and is newly upholstered in light grey kvadrat fabric. The sofa has a very "open" design, showing it's structure and the used techniques from every angle. The details are really impressive, so is the unique feature of one reclining side and the leather streps that keep that side in place. The spokeback sofa has a unique history: it was designed in 1945, but didn't fit the fashion of that time. It turned out that Wegner was a true visionair, because after the sofa did get produced in 1963, it would grow to be one of Wegner most populair designs. It was copied many times, this original piece is a very rare find. A beautiful piece of Scandinavian design history that would make a true eye-catcher in any modern or Scandinavian interior! It remains in very good, vintage condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving an amazing patina. In 1958, Børge Mogensen and his family travelled to Spain. For the hardworking designer, the trip became more than just a holiday. In Andalucia he fell in love with an old chair with a wide seat and broad armrests. Once back in Denmark, he created the Spanish chair. The chair he fell in love with is a traditional type of chair and is very common in areas influenced by ancient Islamic culture from Spain to northern India. Børge Mogensen modernised the design by removing the elaborate carvings, and thus he created his own version with his customary geometrical precision. Yet he retained the most important feature: the broad armrests that give the chair its distinctive character. The broad armrests also serve as a practical place to place a cup or a glass. By designing The Spanish chair Mogensen...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Beech
- PK40 Dining Table by Poul Kjaerholm for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1980By Fritz Hansen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Amsterdam, NLAn eye-catching dining table, model PK40, designed by Poul Kjaerholm and manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark around 1980. This iconic and rare piece of mid-century Scandinavia...Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsSteel
- 1950s Easy chair by Augusto Bozzi for Saporiti, ItalyBy Augusto Bozzi, SaporitiLocated in Amsterdam, NLA lovely lounge chair designed by Augusto Bozzi and manufactured by Saporiti in Italy around 1950. The chair features a sturdy grey metal base that provides stability and compleme...Category
Vintage 1950s European Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Fritz Hansen Style Danish Easy Easy Chair with Open Armrest, 1940sBy Fritz HansenLocated in Bridgeport, CTCharming easy chair with open armrests in the style of Fritz Hansen and made in the 1940s. These type of 1940s chairs are increasingly coming into vogue. Made from solid maple with n...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Maple
- Fritz Hansen Danish Modern Easy Chair in Leather and Beech, 1940sBy Fritz HansenLocated in Odense, DKBeautiful authentic Danish Modern easy chair made and designed in the 1940s at Fritz Hansen & Co., Copenhagen. The chair is upholstered in the...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- FH 1669 - Pair of rare easy chairs by Fritz HansenBy Fritz HansenLocated in Copenhagen, DKPair of FH 1669 - Reupholstered lounge chair in 'Teddy Mohair' by Pierre Frey (colour codes 007 and 003) with legs in stained beech. Designed c. 1938 by Fritz Hansen.Category
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMohair, Cotton, Beech
$24,986 / set - Fritz Hansen Attributed Danish 1940s Easy Chair with Open Carved Birch ArmrestsBy Fritz HansenLocated in Bridgeport, CTCharming easy chair with open armrests attributed to Fritz Hansen and made in the 1940s. These type of 1940s chairs are increasingly coming into vogue. Made from solid birch with nic...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch, Wool
- Danish Mordern Pair of Curved Lounge Chairs, Original Fabric, Fritz Hansen, 1940By Fritz HansenLocated in Odense, DKA rare luxurious pair of easy chairs with some beautiful curves. Original fabric with flower motif, made by a skilled Danish cabinetmaker in the 1940s. Very likely made at the Danish...Category
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Beech
- Pair of Danish 1940s Channel Back Club Chairs Attributed to Fritz HansenBy Fritz HansenLocated in Bridgeport, CTPair of sublime medium size club chairs very similar to Fritz Hansen's famous model 1518 but with a little bit less size and heft and likely made around 1...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Beech