Pair of Wilhelm Kienzle Kaare Klint Wohnbedarf Oak, Beige Cotton Leather Strap Safari Chair, 1950s

Details

Description

Two Wonderful natural oak wood safari chairs, designed by Wilhelm Kienzle in 1928 for Wohnbedarf and manufactured in the early … Read more Two Wonderful natural oak wood safari chairs, designed by Wilhelm Kienzle in 1928 for Wohnbedarf and manufactured in the early 1950s in Switzerland, with frame made of stained solid teak oak, stable leather straps, sealed clear. Covering in original vintage off white / beige, strong linen, adjustable backrest, wood-to-wood joints are designed for the chair to be completely disassembled into a small weekender bag.
As all chairs are handmade, each item has its individual patina, size and tarnish.
The Seat and backrest is clean and stable with no holes or cracks, matching the overall look in a classic vintage design.
Both chairs are in good, clean, usable vintage condition. Seating and backrest is very solid, leather straps very stable. Rare chance to purchase a matching pair, as both items are near new and in very good condition!
The charm and unique style of these handmade ikons is the original vintage appear.
Chairs have no marc but are 100% original items.

The measurements of these rare items are:

Height: 34 in. (86.36 cm)
Width: 21.5 in. (54.61 cm)
Depth: 22.5 in. (57.15 cm)
Seat Height: 14 in. (35.56 cm)

Information about the design
Designed in 1933 by legendary Danish designer Kaare Klint (1888-1954), the Safari chair is one of the earliest known examples of do-it-yourself furniture. Exact details vary, but Klint was inspired by an image of a Roorkhee chair (perhaps spotted in a guidebook) used on an African safari.

Named after the headquarters of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers in Roorkhee, a city in northern India, the Roorkhee Chair was a military campaign chair that was very popular with British officers during the First World War. The manufacturer of the chair, who was commissioned to develop lightweight, adaptable and quickly dismantled seating for the British military in the late 19th century, is unknown. The Roorkhee's seat was made of stretched canvas, while the armrests were made of leather straps. It was probably the practical simplicity of the design that appealed to Klint, who is known for incorporating rigorous research into models, proportions and materials into his designs.
At the time of the creation of the Safari chair, Klint - whose entry into design owed the influence of his father, the architect P.V. Jensen Klint, who completed a furniture apprenticeship at the age of 15, has already played an important role in the development of Danish design. He was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts of furniture design (a department he founded in 1924), and his students included Hans Wegner, Ole Wanscher and others. Through his own remarkable designs as well as his teaching, Klint became known as the "Father of Danish Modernism."

Although Klint's interpretation of the clever military Campaigner chair is closest to the original, there are other modern chairs based on the Roorkhee, including Le Corbusier's Basculant chair and the Wassily chair designed by Marcel Breuer.
The Safari Chair's flexible structure consists of loose mortise and tenon joints that are reinforced when someone sits on the chair. Compared to the old versions of the Roorkhee, it is clear that Klint made important changes in the design of his chair, such as: B. an inclination of the seat that better supports ergonomics. The chair was originally made by Rud Rasmussen Snedkerier and exhibited at the Cabinetmakers' Guild exhibition in Copenhagen in 1933.
Today the Safari is made from solid wood - Danish ash with a linen or oxhide seat and saddle leather armrests - by Carl Hansen & Søn. A seat cushion and a footstool are available, and like its lightweight counterpart from the 1930s, the chair can be assembled and disassembled without tools.

These Scandinavian style, modern design chairs are true handcrafted, quality vintage items that won't loose its value and timeless appear. Wear consistent with age and use. Great patina.
This is a chance to purchase two matching Safari Chairs of the 1950s in good, solid condition.

If you are interested in another pair, different color or quality, please check my other offers of these design ikons in black, leather, or cotton / beech. See less