This column first appeared in June 2012.
Simplicity of design, natural woods and elegant durability come together to create one of today’s most popular furniture styles, Mid 20th Century Modern.
With an emphasis on comfort and practicality, the streamlined designs of Scandinavian Contemporary, Swedish Modern and Danish Modern furniture, referred to collectively as “Mid-20th Century Modern,” were first introduced to the U.S. market in 1949 by the pioneers of Modernism, Charles and Ray Eames. As we entered the decade of the 50s designers on both sides of the pond followed suit with organic shapes, natural finishes and traditional materials to produce some of the most unique furniture of the 20th Century. While dining sets, bedroom furniture and occasional pieces abound, my favorite piece of furniture from this era is the “chair.”
Arne Jacobsen, one of the most influential of the Danish Modern designers, is best known for his stackable chairs. In 1952 he introduced his “Ant Chair,” made of a single piece of molded plywood supported by three metal legs, followed in 1957 by a similar piece with four legs called the “7 Chair.” At the end of 1957 and again in early 1958 he introduced two chairs that enveloped the sitter, the “Swan” and the “Egg.” All of these are highly collectible in today’s market.
In 1949 Finn Juhl created a chair for the Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen. Viewing himself as more of a sculptor than a furniture designer, his “Chieftain Chair” featured a suspended leather seat and back and wooden arms with tongue-lie flaps. This rare and valuable example of Danish Modern furniture is currently bringing $20,000-$30,000 at auction.
By far the most prolific of the mid-20th Century chair designers, Hans Wegner is credited with over 500 different chair designs. His most famous effort, the “Round Chair,” became a “must have” after it was used by Kennedy and Nixon during the 1960 presidential debates. From that point forward it was know simply as “The Chair.” Wegner’s designs won many awards through the 1950s and 1960s and today are on display in the permanent collections of some of the world’s most prestigious museums.
Børge Mogensen was a noted designer of office furniture with an abiding commitment to producing classical, simple and highly functional furniture. His 1949 “Shell Chair” was constructed from the organic shapes one might find in the sand at the beach. Mogensen’s low-slung “Hunt Chair” from 1950 and his “Sleigh Chair” from 1953, which sported sled-like feet and pointed arms, are the centerpiece of any Mid-20th-Century Modern collection.
Verner Panton with his futuristic designs, exotic colors and wild imagination, gave us some of the most unusual pieces from this era. In 1954 he introduced the “S” chair made out of one single piece of plywood and shaped so that the back legs and seat formed an “S”. Too heavy to be of practical use, they stood more as a decorative sculpture. By the end of the 50s his designs became even more unconventional with no legs or discernible backs.
Collecting in this area can be pricey. For those of us who love the look, but can’t spend the $$$, many of these popular chairs are available in reasonably priced new productions. Check out Google.com where prices run from $200-$1,400. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett70@gmail.com
