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18-Dec-07 |
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Womb Settee
Is there any more beautiful sofa/settee than Saarinen's Womb Settee?
Shame...it was made from 1950-1978.
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posted by
barrympls
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18-Dec-07 |
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posted by
LRF
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18-Dec-07 |
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.
Its a beautiful form I was surprised to read it was the womb chair form halved with plywood inserted...
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posted by
azurechicken
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18-Dec-07 |
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Nice!
I love my womb chair, such a comfortable place to read. The settee is really well proportioned, which is interesting, if, as AzC says, it is only the chair with plywood extensions!
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posted by
Olive
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18-Dec-07 |
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Womb for twins..
A local dealer has had one in his display window for at least a year. I think the price is $3800. Fabric is blue hopsack. I also have a womb chair/ottoman that I find is only comfortable when using the ottoman. I wonder if the "loveseat" is comfy all on its own?
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posted by
Mark
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18-Dec-07 |
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I'd pay $3800.00
Heck, I'd be thrilled to pay $3800.00 for a womb settee.
I called Knoll and talked a very nice person in the Knoll Studio who said that they get occasional, but consistent calls to reintroduce the Settee. She said that Knoll has tried to figure out how to remake the settee and make it affordable, but they weren't able to do it.
I was thinking at the time, "Since when has Knoll been concerned about keep any of their prices down", but I kept quiet!
By the way, Home Office Designs says on their website that Herman Miller prices are going up again on January. Jeez, every year.....
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posted by
barrympls
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19-Dec-07 |
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Do I hear hoofs on the roof ?
While I am a huge fan of the womb chair I must say that the Swan settee is the mini for me.
Those terrific cut outs leave the arms floating as the back curves gracefully from side to side. Oh but Santa, where would I put it?
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posted by
bustelo
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19-Dec-07 |
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Is there
such an animal, bustelo ? I'd like to see it. . .
It makes perfect sense to me (if also a little disappointing) that the Womb would be extended with flat material (plywood) -- it's the same principle as extending a sedan into a limo: there's "nothing going on" form-wise between the two sculpted ends. It may be that the design of the shell anticipated this, by being designed with a duo of straight lines at the section (coup) made thru the middle of the chair.
The connecting of fiberglas to plywood does raise questions, however. . .and the phot seems to show slightly lumpy edges at the areas of juncture.
SDR
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posted by
SDR
edited on 19-Dec-07 08:24 PM [edit]
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19-Dec-07 |
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One for your kid
Looks like Knoll is cashing in on the mod-kid market and now making the womb chair in 3 sizes: baby bear, mama bear and daddy bear. I'm sure it won't be long before they reintroduce the womb settee.
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posted by
Pegboard Modern
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19-Dec-07 |
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SDR, yes
I'm not sure I'm reading your post correctly, but there is a swan settee as well as the womb settee. We are fortunate to have one of each. I've never seen the shell of the womb settee stripped, so I don't know if it is made entirely of fiberglass or has plywood as well. We are going to reupholster our swan settee very soon and will see it stripped, but I'm pretty certain that it is one shell molded of the same material as the regular swan.
Design-wise, I think the swan settee is a better realized design and the base is different that the regular chair and it feels a bit more considered. The womb settee looks like what it is, a "stretched" womb chair. Though they sit entirely differently, the swan more a formal "sipping tea" kinda' vibe while the womb is a deeper, more kicked-back relaxed feel. My 3 1/2 year old loves to sit in the womb settee with me and have me read to him.
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posted by
Pegboard Modern
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19-Dec-07 |
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Swan vs. Womb
I love both the Swan and Womb chairs, but I always thought that the Swan Settee was a bit too plain with the lack of cushions, whereas the Womb Settee looks fully realized.
It's just my opinion....at least the bloody Swan Settee is STILL available.
By the way, all the best in the Jollyday season, au-go-go.
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posted by
barrympls
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19-Dec-07 |
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posted by
Geo. H.
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19-Dec-07 |
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There are
you go !
As for the Womb settee, the legs might have been thickened a bit to reflect the doubling of potential load -- even if not technically necessary -- and the doubling of size.
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posted by
SDR
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19-Dec-07 |
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I wouldn't want a knockoff....
even if one was available because Knoll understood how to manufacturer the settee with the additional stress. I could imagine that a knockoff company would cut corners on the structure.
But, it's a moot point because I don't think anyone has gone ahead and knocked off this settee.
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posted by
barrympls
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21-Jan-08 |
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Quite different
We just got our swan settee back from being reupholstered and it looks very nice. However, I have to say now that we have it an useable state, and as beautiful as the form is, the womb settee has it beat for comfort by a mile. The swan is a nice sculptural piece, but not nearly as inviting for anything more than a brief sit. It works well for us, as we wanted to use it in an entryway where you would not be seated long anyway, but the contrast is striking.
My son has decided that it's "his" sofa because it is "just my size". That's fine with me since we plan to keep it for a very long time. It was one of those rare flea market scores.
SDR, you might find it interesting that I compared the legs of the womb chair to the settee and there is no difference. That may be part of the reason that if you are anything besides petite and sit in the middle, you can see it sag a bit.
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posted by
Pegboard Modern
edited on 21-Jan-08 06:52 AM [edit]
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21-Jan-08 |
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Peg, which one sags?
I can't see any sagging in the pix, is it the Swan or the Womb settee that's sagging?
I know that Knoll looked into reissuing the Womb Settee, but couldn't do it at what they consider an affordable price.
Of the two (both originally conceived as lounge chairs), I always thought that the Swan Settee isn't as graceful as its lounge chair, yet I think visually, the Womb Settee is as beautiful as its lounge chair counterpart.
Funny,t hough, that Knoll can't figure out how to make the Settee.
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posted by
barrympls
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21-Jan-08 |
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3 sizes?
From Knoll:
The Womb chair is available in three sizes: standard, medium and small. The medium size also has an accompanying ottoman
Neither HiveModern, Retromodern or Highbrow are showing all three sizes.
I wonder what's the sizing difference....
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posted by
barrympls
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21-Jan-08 |
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Womb Sizes
I had heard the sizing was 100% , 75% and 30% (kids) I dont know yet what that translates to in actual inches, but the math can't be that hard.
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posted by
LuciferSum
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21-Jan-08 |
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Pegboard
said that the Womb settee sags *when you sit in it* - so it wouldn't show in the photo. . .
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posted by
SDR
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22-Jan-08 |
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If Womb settees sag, then
I wonder if that's why Knoll hasn't put 'em back into production, and I wonder if I should shy away from getting an older one.
It doesn't look like the legs can be mended, either way.
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posted by
barrympls
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03-Feb-08 |
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Here's a photo of mine. Wound...
Here's a photo of mine. It took me a long time to find one, and it wound up costing me about $4500 after getting it restored in Knoll cuddle cloth, but it's my favorite piece of furniture I own. The perfect example of form + function.
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posted by
Kevin Acker
edited on 03-Feb-08 04:05 PM [edit]
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03-Feb-08 |
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Kevin:
How sturdy is it structurely? Does it sag? Can if easily handle the weight of two people?
Would you recommend it for anyone?
I ask this because 1) it's bleedin' expensive, if you can find one, and 2) the leg structuure does not appear to repariable, should it start to lose its shape.
Thanks in advance for your opinions!
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posted by
barrympls
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03-Feb-08 |
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barry
if you are lucky ...
barry
if you are lucky enough to get one
and there was a sacking problem, I would put a internal brace in the chair ( a welder can do it and then recover over it) ,before i would let it break
I know this could devalue some of the price but it would
break my heart to see it bend or sag, OR just put in a corner and look it as a fine and unusual piece of art and pray none of your good friends will come over and plop their butts on it,
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posted by
LRF
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03-Feb-08 |
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I have a very early Flo...
I have a very early Florance Knoll bench from the very early 50s with 4 shiny stainless steel legs,
Florance should have designed it with 6 legs and I think the later ones she did,
I was told by the guy that i bought it from, who had several, said that there are some stress marks and light hairline cracks that will break them eventually if any heavy seating takes place,
I use it at the foot of my bed to keep the spread and pillows on it, and it works perfect, i would hate to see some guest break that one in two,
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posted by
LRF
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03-Feb-08 |
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Barry -
Barry -
When I had it restored, the upholsterer reinforced a section of the internal frame (which is fiberglass, I believe). Apparently the construction involves joining together two frames from womb chairs, and the part where they join can lose its integrity over time.
Haven't had any issues with the legs. However, if one breaks, it's a big problem. I've been told that you can have a welder repair it, but they would probably require them using an ugly brace.
I do treat the settee with respect - I've had two people sitting on it, but not that often.
Yes, the chair sags a touch when I sit in it. The fiberglass frame is quite flexible, which adds to the comfort.
One more thing: If you do buy one, make sure you find the right guy to restore it. It's not an easy job.
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posted by
Kevin Acker
edited on 03-Feb-08 05:29 PM [edit]
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11-Mar-08 |
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posted by
LRF
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17-Mar-10 |
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posted by
Pegboard Modern (USA)
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17-Mar-10 |
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Things have changed
Thanks for showing me.....I did see it, but I now have a sofa, and if I'm considering relocating from Minneapolis to Phoenix, at this time, i would not bid on this piece (which is located in Houston), pay for shipping up here, only to possibily move it down to Phoenix!
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posted by
barrympls (USA)
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18-Mar-10 |
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posted by
asha
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18-Mar-10 |
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Weight
I'm sure the seller would tell you -- he answered all my questions promptly and candidly -- but a Womb chair weighs 38 pounds, so I'd expect the settee to weigh under 100.
With something that large, though, it's the dimensional weight rather than the actual weight that matters, so if you're trying to get quotes from Plycon or Craters & Freighters or whatever, just tell them it weighs 100 pounds.
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posted by
fastfwd
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03-Apr-10 |
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METAL shell womb settee
I bought a Womb settee a few years ago & finally got it to a guy for reupholstery. When he took all the old stuff off, the "shell" was sheat metal! Anyone else hear of that??...
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posted by
nevereatpork
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03-Apr-10 |
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posted by
luluhotrod
edited on 03-Apr-10 05:02 AM [edit]
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