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11-Jun-09
step right up - get your "rare" here
I am taking the challenge from the "1960's lounge chair - questions" thread (well - sort of) and invite others to post their stumpers here. The "sort of" part is that I have no expectations that what I put here is rare, but as someone with a middling working knowledge of modern design I do run into things that are interesting to me but am stumped about.

Case study #1. I picked this chair up just this morning. It is "signed" (LOL - ink stamped actually) by the famous designer Inspected by 1 on the frame. It may have been tagged at one point but part of the undercloth is missing. Every thing seems original including the fabric. Any Ideas?
posted by glassartist (USA)
 [edit]
 
11-Jun-09
great initiative! :) your...
great initiative! :)
your chair looks like it's made out of elm or beech, inexpensive woods (as against teak, rosewood..) so it would have been produced for the masses, I assume.
I'll see if I can dig something up..
posted by bj (BE)
 [edit]
 
11-Jun-09
I like this game :D
Definitely American made, has a Heywood Wakefield wanna-be look, kind of, sort of. One thing is for sure it isn't a DiFrutta original. Sorry to disappoint.
posted by SMGSwank (USA)
edited on 11-Jun-09 07:36 PM  [edit]
 
11-Jun-09
Designer attribution...
Designer attribution eh...how 'bout Robsjohn Gibbings. One couldn't argue the seamless seat/backrest frame evokes his strap chair. All probability...not.

posted by WoofWoof (USA)
 [edit]
 
11-Jun-09
Robsjohn Fibbing
Robsjohn Fibbing



posted by WoofWoof (USA)
 [edit]
 
11-Jun-09
So
So let me collect our consensus so far (adding my own). It must be a heywrussel oblong- fibbings chair. Now thats rare (or half baked anyway)! On the mundane side definitely american, and the construction says 1940's or 1950's is likely. Still looking for the smartest kid in class! And don't for get to post your mystery objects here. We will get a DiFrutta yet!
posted by glassartist (USA)
edited on 11-Jun-09 08:54 PM  [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
There were scores of companies
making this kind of fat, Heyward-Wakefield-influenced furniture back in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

The huge size of the back-side and seat-side bent piece indicates that it probably was not a top designer, due to it being out-of-proportion.

Nice, chunky chair, though.
posted by barrympls (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
Head scratcher
I've long thought that there should be just one "Chair ID" thread rather than a separate thread for each.

Anyway, here is my contribution. I've been struggling with this for a year now. The lounge chair has a strong Kjaerholm vibe and is incredibly well made of stainless steel and woven leather. But I am no closer to an attribution then when I first got it.

Any ideas?
posted by Pegboard Modern (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
true story

a couple of years ago an acquaintance of mine invited me over to his studio to see his "chair collection" comprised of many many chairs he bought at thrift stores over 15 years during the 80's and 90's in salem, oregon usa

there were many generic but semi-interesting chairs as well as a smattering of eames chairs, thonet, bertoia etc.

then i found one that stopped me dead in my tracks.

turns out it was a scimitar chair designed by Jørgen Kastholm and Preben Fabricius and worth 4-6k U$D , although he had no idea and paid only $15.00 for it because he thought it was "cool"

i tried to get him to sell it to me but he has hung onto it..... now we are actually neighbors and he still has the chair... i told him if he ever wants to sell it to let me know.

truly a bonafied di frutta moment if there ever was one.....



posted by chewbacca rug (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
Pegboard

I want that chair. Is it for sale?

posted by the_beloved (US/CAN)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
deleted.......
deleted.........
posted by chewbacca rug (USA)
edited on 12-Jun-09 02:27 AM  [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
Pegboard
Wasn't there a very similar chair on eBay about a week ago? Don't recall if there was any designer info in the listing though.
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
#2
While we are pondering the others.....
My number two is this torchiere. All I know is that it was purchased new in 1934. Before I bought this one I saw the same one (but the wood rings were black) in the met in new york in a small room with frankl skyscraper pieces and other similar period works. Sadly I did not pay strict attention to it, and have not been able to get any help from the met since. This was the first decent modern piece I had ever bought, and I still love it to this day. My only guess is Gilbert Rohde. Any thoughts on this one?
posted by glassartist (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
I would kill and eat a puppy ...
I would kill and eat a puppy for a scimitar chair.
posted by Heath
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
how will......

you prepare the puppy before eating it ?

both from a cuisine standpoint as well as an emotional one for the puppy ?
posted by chewbacca rug (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
.
Spit roasted I think.

Eero Aarnio, mine have a brass finish and better upholstery, anyone got any info? They never come up in any search on Aarnio.
posted by Heath
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
cross between an eames lounge and an ekornes chair
Check this thing out, In know it has a walnut or teak finish on the back and underside of both the chair and ottoman. But no markings

Fake ekorness? or what is it?
posted by modrover
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
Heath, have you considered...
Heath, have you considered cashew puppy? Roasting is SO yesterday.
posted by hudsonhonu (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Jun-09
or "Ala Lechter" w/Fava Beans and Chianti
Sorry,the temptation was too great! :)
posted by Tulipman
 [edit]
 
13-Jun-09
.
Its a funny thought, what would you do, how far would you go....I don't think I could actually do it, not for a chair anyway but for a Felder tablesaw for sure, show me the schnauzer!
posted by Heath
 [edit]
 
13-Jun-09
hot dog, some fun

Finally a topic to sink our teeth into, and a dog gone good one as the photos in this thread bear witness. As for spit roasting sparky can we smoke it with some dogwood? Heath is the schnauzer a weiner dog?

I am so pleased to see Difrutta is making a resurgence on the scene and as for fibbings and heyruss I can only hope more treasures surface.

I have not felt the urge to beat the dead horse of reproductions, but I will gladly jump in when silly is involved.

Pegboard, I have seen your chair only once before many years ago, but I could not find any info then either.
I hope this thread shines some light on the design.
posted by bustelo
 [edit]
 
13-Jun-09
.
dinner time! I really don't think I could do it. All bark and no bite me.
posted by Heath
 [edit]
 
15-Jun-09
I have no input on the...
I have no input on the consumation of pet animals, sorry, but I do have this vanity on show. I own two matching nightstands.
posted by bj (BE)
 [edit]
 
15-Jun-09
Love what
you've done with your walls and floor, bj. Is that look what you might call "Penitentiary Modernism"?
posted by Riki (USA/CH)
 [edit]
 
15-Jun-09
I bought it that way! But...
I bought it that way! But I'm afraid I've terribly overspend...
posted by bj (BE)
 [edit]
 
15-Jun-09
BJ just chillin'
at home in front of the tube, in his Eames rocker (not pictured).


posted by Riki (USA/CH)
edited on 15-Jun-09 09:24 PM  [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
.

Schnauzers may be handsome little fellas but I hope you meant 'consumption' not 'consumation'.

Who knows... perhaps one day people will be able to marry their pets, but I bet getting an anulment would be tricky.

I like concrete blocks though, lay some parquetry, hang some huge prints, it would look great. Is this your house?
posted by Heath
edited on 16-Jun-09 02:20 AM  [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
No, of course it's not :)...
No, of course it's not :) it's the back wall of our depot.
But I do like it as a background.
Makes the furniture look less pretentious, somehow..
Hope this doesn't dissapoint you fellas, feel free to rant on about my (fictional) life.
But please do shed some light on the furniture I brought up, otherwise a perfectly good thread will go to waste..
posted by bj (BE)
 [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
#1
I'm going to guess Brown-Saltman... Perhaps John Keal?
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
#3
So far no luck on anyones mysteries, so I will try again. I have had this one for a couple of years and recently saw a labeled one. The company is Bernstorffsminde from denmark. It is a verynice construction with dry fit through tennon stretchers, that remove for flat packing. The seat is kept tight by dowels and leather belts. Some of the designers that worked with this company are
Borge Mogensen
Anders Fasterholt
Morten Gottler
Kaare Klint
Abbe Gehl

There are probably others. Any Ideas on designer? I know Mogensen did a box frame chair for Frederica, but the construction was quite different.
posted by glassartist (USA)
 [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
My guess on that one,...
My guess on that one, glassartist, was Mogensen, given the similar work for Rasmussen, Stolefabrik, the belts and the construction and such. But I don't know.

It's a really neat chair, though probably not dogworthy.
posted by hudsonhonu (USA)
 [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
Here's my stumper of a table...
Fell in love with this table on ebay...got it for a song and then spent a tidy sum getting it restored. According to the ebayer it had always been associated with a set of Dan Johnson gazelle chairs. It is unmarked. Came from Riverside CA. I'm going to try and post pics in the body of this message, but will link as well just in case. My restorer preserved the original luggage leather style pulls for the leaves. Whole thing operates like a dream now.

Anyone have any ideas?


And no, I'm not going to use those chairs with it. I'm in the process of getting new ones. I'm also having issues with picture posting...so bear with me...
posted by mjsee
edited on 16-Jun-09 06:11 PM  [edit]
 
16-Jun-09
Henry Miller
i get lots of folks telling me they have a "Henry Miller" chair.

perhaps after writing smutty and sexual novels, mr. miller
had a hankerin' to build some chairs.

a different strand of "Di Frutta"

would anyone eat a shihtzu taco for a henry miller chair ???
posted by chewbacca rug (USA)
edited on 16-Jun-09 06:39 PM  [edit]
 
06-Feb-10
one more time
Given the perfect record of zero successes for this thread I am motivated to try a few more "rare" chairs (well, perhaps medium or well done). The first is a teak dining chair, the second is a teak framed hiback lounge, and the third I am guessing might be italian. Any guesses?


posted by glassartist (USA)
edited on 06-Feb-10 08:41 PM  [edit]
 
06-Feb-10
The second chair is by...
The second chair is by Selig...pretty sure...
Third looks familar, but drawing a blank.
posted by WoofWoof (USA)
 [edit]
 
08-Feb-10
It does
have that Selig flavor but I cant find this one.
posted by glassartist (USA)
 [edit]
 
08-Feb-10
Pegboard - Have a look at...
Pegboard - Have a look at the Girsberger euro chair, and Olivier Mourgue's Joker. Both similar designs might give something away on a google search? Will have a think about that one for you.
posted by NickR60 (UK)
 [edit]
 
08-Feb-10
glassartist
I doubt the consistent accuracy of the pricing but here's a pair @ Wright
http://www.wright-now.com/search/selig_chair/DD/none/JE1M/HS...
posted by BustownModern
 [edit]
 
08-Feb-10
I think...
Okay nevermind... Corrected. :)
posted by woodywood (USA)
edited on 08-Feb-10 03:46 PM  [edit]
 
10-Feb-10
This thread
finally has a sucessful ID! Admittedly, this time I did put a couple that had potential to be more findable, But still! thanks, guys. how about the other two? Anyone else got some more?
posted by glassartist (USA)
 [edit]
 
08-Jul-10
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
08-Jul-10
Hmmm...
Tropicane?
posted by BRS
 [edit]
 
21-Aug-10
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
21-Aug-10
chair 1
... of "one more time"

look like some of the pieces that Baker was putting out after their stint with FJ until '55. i had a great set of 6 arm chairs and 2 sides that were "very similar" to his #48 chairs with only minor changes. treadway had originally claimed they were FJ but later recanted that and restated as in the manner of. but they were still made by Baker as far as we could tell.

posted by D Hopper
 [edit]
 
06-Sep-10
?
?
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
06-Sep-10
I know these dining chairs...
I know these dining chairs have been up before and are generally attributed to McCobb or Lee L Woodard but I dont think either are right.....Anyone ?
posted by Killian (IRL)
 [edit]
 
06-Sep-10
Selrite circa 1965
Best information I have leads me to believe that these chairs are by Selrite and manufactured sometime around 1965.

I will mention that this Selrite attribution is not authoritative (if it were i would have cited historical reference). It is based upon other information I have gathered about similar Selrite designs of the time period which suggests that these chairs are by the same manufacturer based upon similarities in construction methods and materials used.

I believe that I can safely state that they are not designed by Paul McCobb as there is nothing in the historical record to support a Paul McCobb attribution.

If anyone has any better authoritative information about this design I for one would love to see it.
http://paulmccobb.blogspot.com
posted by straylight
 [edit]
 
06-Sep-10
thanks for the lead.
thanks for the lead.
posted by Killian (IRL)
 [edit]
 
03-Oct-10
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
11-Nov-10
Here's one...
Anyone?
posted by Lunchbox (USA)
 [edit]
 
11-Nov-10
Nice
implants !
posted by robert1960 (UK)
 [edit]
 
11-Nov-10
lolzers
Hideous I know. But it's a Moroso piece, vintage.
posted by Lunchbox (USA)
 [edit]
 
12-Nov-10
Been trying to I'd this one for 15 years
Found these nested modernist tables in an Australian thrift shop about 15 years ago. They are chrome plated steel with beveled edged glass. I think they might be by the U.K. Company PEL.
posted by tick
edited on 12-Nov-10 08:58 AM  [edit]
 
12-Nov-10
Tick I believe your tables...
Tick I believe your tables are a Bauhaus art deco design By Mart Stam for Thonet model B97 either that or they are a copy of them.

edit....I saw a set of these recently in a catalogue as being a deco piece, they are a little curvier than the Thonet ones but maybe try looking the Bauhaus German route or have them looked at by a German auction house.
posted by Killian (IRL)
edited on 12-Nov-10 10:27 AM  [edit]
 
12-Nov-10
Thanks Killian
That brings me another step closer to finding the origin of the tables. Some of the Bauhaus designs were made under license in Australia, so that would fit in. I have tried to id your table and chairs listed above, but as beautiful as they are, not seen any sign of em.

Cheers,
Tick.
posted by tick
edited on 12-Nov-10 11:53 PM  [edit]
 
15-Jan-11
squarechair1.jpg
The chair you have is by Borge Jensen
posted by brodesign
 [edit]
 
15-May-11
Anyone?
...
posted by woodywood (USA)
 [edit]
 
17-May-11
Can anyone help ID the...
Can anyone help ID the rocking chair? Sorry about the bad quality (photo isn't mine). The fabric is like a scratchy wool.
posted by shirker
edited on 17-May-11 03:02 PM  [edit]
 
17-May-11
this was presented as an...

this was presented as an ID question in an earlier thread. One is present in a photograph at Farnley Hey in Yorkshire depicted in Lesley Jackson's book, Contemporary. Are you in UK?
posted by shipwright (UK)
 [edit]
 
17-May-11
posted by shipwright (UK)
 [edit]
 

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