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10-Dec-12 |
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papa bear chair id
I just picked up this chair from a retired gentleman who said he had purchased it some 40 years ago and was the second owner. This was confirmed by his wife and daughter. They had it recovered in the early eighties. He was fairly certain it was a replica and not an original Wegner chair. I like the look of it, horrible upholstery aside, and i am planning to have it re-upholstered. When i got the chair home i decided to take a look under the vinyl covering the base and i came across a Danish furniture makers medallion.
My question is this: Does this mean the chair may be authentic, or could this be an early Danish knockoff?
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posted by
luluhotrod
edited on 10-Dec-12 07:37 PM [edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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posted by
tchp
[edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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posted by
luluhotrod
edited on 10-Dec-12 07:45 PM [edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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The photos are a little...
The photos are a little small so I can't really tell what we are looking at here- but was the man certain that it was a replica? Sometimes older folks just don't know what they have...clearly as demonstrated by the upholstery that was chosen for recovery...
also here are some past threads that talk about the "svend skipper" and identifying marks-
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread_show_one/thread_id/12798/
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread_show_one/thread_id/13714/
Hope these threads help a bit!
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posted by
midwest
[edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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my two cents
It would appear to be the real deal to me. I'm sure there are far more qualified people on the forum to give you a definitive answer on it, but from the research I've done on them it looks like the Wegner. The paws on the knockoffs are usually a dead giveaway.
If it is genuine, congrats on a gorgeous chair (albeit with hideous fabric). Earlier this year there was a Papa Bear with matching ottoman at auction in rural Iowa I thought I could snatch up for a decent price... it went for $5,000.
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posted by
DHutch17
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10-Dec-12 |
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seems...
..you hit the jackpot!
congratulations!
I don't think there were any knockoffs being produced in denmark.
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posted by
bj (BE)
[edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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That makes my day!
Does anyone know what type of wood the paws and legs are made of? Looks like rosewood to me, but i have only found reference to walnut being the only dark wood used.
Also, is it possible to determine a manufacturing date range based on the fact that the chair has a medallion rather then a sticker or brand. By that i mean, when did they first employ a medallion, and when was this discontinued in favour of the sticker?
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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it seems teak to me?
the inside is beautifully constructed out of solid beech.
How much did you pay if I may ask.
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posted by
bj (BE)
[edit]
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10-Dec-12 |
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posted by
tchp
[edit]
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11-Dec-12 |
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posted by
artsnot (CAN)
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11-Dec-12 |
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It wasn't cheap...
I paid $600 for the chair, that is a lot of money for me and much more then I have ever paid for a chair, but now that it seems likely to be authentic I am very pleased with the purchase. I expect will will cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of $1000 to have it recovered. I do not intend to sell the chair as I have wanted one for years. Now I just need to find a reasonably priced ottoman to go with it.
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posted by
luluhotrod
edited on 11-Dec-12 01:32 AM [edit]
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11-Dec-12 |
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Since it
clearly was reupholstered, perhaps (at the same time) the wood was stained -- perhaps to match other pieces in the setting. In that case, it might be teak ?
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posted by
SDR (USA)
[edit]
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11-Dec-12 |
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Have you pulled away the...
Have you pulled away the rest of the dust cover on the bottom of the chair, to see if there is any additional stamps, such as an AP Stolen mark?
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posted by
tchp
[edit]
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11-Dec-12 |
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Paws
I seem to recall someone saying that the paws on genuine papa bears are removable?
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posted by
Honus_Wenger
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12-Dec-12 |
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Te chair is
Genuine as the balck danish furniture makers control board is applied by the manufacturer as a sign to show that the chair was tested by the furniture board and approved.
The paws are teak but in aweful dirty stained so can be brought back along with the legs to the rich colour using a little time and effort.
They are fitted to the frame with dowls so will pop out using a flat blade and gently lifting it.
You need them out anyway so the upholsterer can fit thefabric and piping.
Wen you upholster it make sure to get images of a official chair so you get the right look.
Some upholsterers simply drape a single piece of fabric over the back instead of the sewn squares. The sewn squares signify where the buttons fit. 4 squares meet and at the point is where the button is fitted.
http://danish-homestore.com/acatalog/info%5f1571%2ehtml
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posted by
Simon, Danish-homestore (UK)
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13-Dec-12 |
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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13-Dec-12 |
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luluhotrod
Try hard to find an upholsterer who has done these before or who at least cares enough to study how they should be done so that he or she gets it right. A lot of upholsterers will just say "yeah, yeah" to your questions and concerns and then do it the way they do any other chair.
There are many good photos of original Papa Bear chairs online where the proportions of the tufting can be worked out. Read the DA thread linked before for more information and be sure to watch the video linked in it.
It will be more work for you to do it this way but you can save money over shipping it to a specialty upholsterer, and a skilled upholsterer who enjoys a challenge and who appreciates fine furniture can do a good job of it even if he/she has never done one before.
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm//...
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posted by
*spanky*
[edit]
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21-Dec-12 |
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Thanks...
Thank you to everyone for all the information, it is very much appreciated. I have removed the 'paws' , they did just pop right off with not much effort. I am trying to refinish them, as well as the legs of the chair before I hand it over to the upholsterer. I have been compiling as many detailed photos as I can to give to my upholsterer. She is very good, but this will be her first papa bear. I am also trying to source some Hallingdal fabric. No distributors here in British Columbia, Canada, unfortunately. Is there anyone out there who can give me the precise measurements of the 'squares' on the backrest? Again, I truly appreciate any halp or information offered.
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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21-Dec-12 |
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luluhotrod
Your upholsterer can order from Maharam once she sets up an account (easy enough to do). Their site gives the following as a contact in Canada:
Toronto
60 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 3E4
416.368.7600
416.368.5200 Fax
I get fabric from them without stepping foot into the nearest showroom and I imagine it's no different for your upholsterer in Canada. Get some samples first (no charge for them) so that you're sure of the color.
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posted by
*spanky*
[edit]
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22-Dec-12 |
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Thanks Spanky!
I do believe you have just saved me a lot of time. Much appreciated!
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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23-Dec-12 |
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Now that is a Holy Grail find!
a Papa Bear for 600? Are you kidding? I'd have a seizure if I ever came across a find like that. Enjoy,and Happy Holidays!
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posted by
Tulipman
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07-Jan-13 |
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I was ecstatic too!
Now about the 'squares'.....
Is there anyone out there who can give me the precise dimensions/measurements of the 'squares' on the backrest?
I am trying to get as much detailed information as possible to pass on to my upholsterer before the fabric arrives.
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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07-Jan-13 |
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I guess this isn't news
but I am simply amazed by how hideous upholstery can make a stunning chair...um, hideous? I can't wait to see the chair post make-over
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posted by
waffle
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07-Jan-13 |
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posted by
woodywood (USA)
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07-Feb-13 |
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Hey Are you consider to...
Hey
Are you consider to sell the chair? I will give you a good price
regards
(edited by DA - no sales on the forum please)
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posted by
cph1st
[edit]
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08-Feb-13 |
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Not Wegner
I will be the dissenting voice. There is another Danish company called "Svend Skipper" that makes a chair very much like the Papa Bear. A subtle difference is that the Skipper has a straight cut-out on the side of the chair and the Wegner has a slight wavy curve.
The Skipper is not a shabby chair at all. Very comfortable.
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posted by
ScanDesign
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08-Feb-13 |
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I'm always amazed how people...
I'm always amazed how people with incorrect information can be so publicly confident in their statements.
All it takes is a simple 10 second "svend skipper" google search to see that the OP's chair is not a svend skipper. (Hint, if you only have 3 seconds instead of 10, just compare the paws).
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posted by
cdsilva
edited on 08-Feb-13 04:07 PM [edit]
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23-Mar-13 |
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finally..
Fabric finally arrived from Maharam, decided to go with Hallingdal in black. Chair is at the upholsterers getting stripped. Does anyone out there know what type of webbing is used in the seat? I am trying to source some so that it can be replaced as well. Original seems fine, but there is a stain, presumably someone had a spill at some point. Any information pertaining to the webbing would be greatly appreciated.
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posted by
luluhotrod
[edit]
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23-Mar-13 |
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Do not change the webbing
Leaving as much original as possible retains more of the value. Some staining is inconsequential. I would only replace the webbing if it was not structurally stable.
Hope you have an expert upholsterer, that is not an easy chair to redo correctly.
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posted by
Pegboard Modern (USA)
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