Blum and Balle Circle Side Table, Lacquered Beech - 26"
About the Item
- Creator:GETAMA (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Diameter: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:Beech,Lacquered
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Contemporary
- Production Type:New & Custom(Current Production)
- Estimated Production Time:Available Now
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Berkeley, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1353215284021
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.
You May Also Like
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Beech
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Dining Room Tables
Metal
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Dining Room Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Wood
2010s Danish Modern Dining Room Tables
Beech
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine, Marble, Metal
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Dining Room Tables
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Art Glass, Wood
2010s North American Modern Dining Room Tables
Beech, Maple
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Art Glass, Wood
More From This Seller
View AllMid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Beech, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables
Oak, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Ta...
Oak
