Pair of Model GE 88 Armchairs in Beech, Designed by Aage Pedersen for GETAMA
View Similar Items
Pair of Model GE 88 Armchairs in Beech, Designed by Aage Pedersen for GETAMA
About the Item
- Creator:GETAMA (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 39.25 in (99.7 cm)Width: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Depth: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:c. 1960's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Great candidates for reupholstering and refinishing. Fading and discoloration to fabric. Areas of noticeable finish loss to wood, including chipping and small scuffs to edge of one back right leg (pictured).
- Seller Location:Norwalk, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: E158 (G)1stDibs: LU2916335752362
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.
More From This Seller
View AllMid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech, Wool
21st Century and Contemporary German Bauhaus Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Beech
You May Also Like
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Oak, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
