Set of Six Frits Schlegel 'Husum' Chairs in Elm, Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1930s
About the Item
- Creator:Fritz Hansen (Manufacturer),Frits Schlegel (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 20.87 in (53 cm)Depth: 18.51 in (47 cm)Seat Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1930s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:The Hague, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1803334573952
Fritz Hansen
When the Copenhagen-based furniture maker Fritz Hansen opened for business more than 140 years ago, the company — which today styles itself The Republic of Fritz Hansen — adhered to the traditional, time-honored Danish values of craftsmanship in woodworking and joinery. Yet thanks to the postwar innovations of Arne Jacobsen and others, Fritz Hansen would become the country’s leader in Scandinavian modern design using new, forward-looking materials and methods.
Fritz Hansen started his company in 1872, specializing in the manufacture of small furniture parts. In 1915, the firm became the first in Denmark to make chairs using steam-bent wood (a technique most familiar from birch used in the ubiquitous café chairs by Austrian maker Thonet). At the time, Fritz Hansen was best known for seating that featured curved legs and curlicue splats and referenced 18th-century Chippendale designs.
In the next few decades, the company promoted simple, plain chairs with slatted backs and cane or rush seats designed by such proto-modernist masters as Kaare Klint and Søren Hansen. Still, the most aesthetically striking piece Fritz Hansen produced in the first half of the 20th century was arguably the China chair of 1944 by Hans Wegner — and that piece, with its yoke-shaped bentwood back- and armrest, was based on seating manufactured in China during the Ming dynasty. (Wegner was moved by portraits he’d seen of Danish merchants in the Chinese chairs.)
Everything changed in 1952 with Arne Jacobsen’s Ant chair. The collaboration between the architect and Fritz Hansen officially originated in 1934 — that year, Jacobsen created his inaugural piece for the manufacturer, the solid beechwood Bellevue chair for a restaurant commission. The Ant chair, however, was the breakthrough.
With assistance from his then-apprentice Verner Panton, Jacobsen designed the Ant chair for the cafeteria of a Danish healthcare company called Novo Nordisk. The chair was composed of a seat and backrest formed from a single piece of molded plywood attached, in its original iteration, to three tubular metal legs. Its silhouette suggests the shape of the insect’s body, and the lightweight, stackable chair and its biomorphic form became an international hit.
Jacobsen followed with more plywood successes, such as the Grand Prix chair of 1957. The following year he designed the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen and its furnishings, including the Egg chair and the Swan chair. Those two upholstered pieces, with their lush, organic frames made of fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane, have become the two chairs most emblematic of mid-20th-century cool. Moreover, the Egg and Swan led Fritz Hansen to fully embrace new man-made materials, like foam, plastic and steel wire used to realize the avant-garde creations of later generations of designers with whom the firm collaborated, such as Piet Hein, Jørn Utzon (the architect of the Sydney Opera House) and Verner Panton. If the Fritz Hansen of 1872 would not now recognize his company, today’s connoisseurs certainly do.
Find a collection of vintage Fritz Hansen tables, lounge chairs, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: The Hague, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Rare Set of Eight Henning Kjærnulf Dining Chairs in Oak & Bouclé, Denmark, 1950sBy Henning Kjærnulf, Nyrup Møbelfabrik, RubelliLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare set of dining room chairs was designed by Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf in the late 1950s. The chairs were produced by Nyrup Møbelfabrik in Denmark. The set consists of eight...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Oak
- Sculptural Set of Six Brutalist Dining Chairs in Solid Oak, France, 1960sLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare set of dining chairs was produced in France in the late 1960s. The striking design is marked by the slightly curved backrest and and carved, rounded seat. The triangular ba...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Frits Henningsen Wingback Chair in Walnut and Green Rubelli Fabric, 1930sBy Rubelli, Frits HenningsenLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare wingback chair was designed and made by Danish cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen in the mid-1930s. The particular model was exhibited at the 1933 exhibition held at the Industr...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChenille, Upholstery, Walnut, Fabric
- Set of Six Ulderico Carlo Forni Dining Chairs in Cherry Wood, Italy, 1940sBy Don Ulderico Alberto Carlo ForniLocated in The Hague, NLThis exceptional set of dining chairs was designed by Don Ulderico Carlo Alberto Forni for a private residence in Milan. The design was produced by hand by a master carpenter in the Como area in the late 1940s. The frame of the chair is in solid cherrywood, with a sculptural wing shaped back. The details of the intricately made elegant backrest and the graceful tapering legs demonstrate the particularly high level of craftsmanship of the maker. The elegant silhouette of the frames is completed by the curved line of the rear legs, The chairs have been carefully restored and reconditioned, respecting and partially retaining the original patina of the wood. The upholstery has been renewed in a traditional manner, using high quality horsehair to create a comfortable and even seat. The ecru colored fabric is the beautifully structured 'Windsor' fabric by Tibor Reich...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Wood, Trimming, Cherry
- Set of Six Victor Courtray Dining Chairs in Oak and Rush, France, 1940sBy Victor CourtrayLocated in The Hague, NLThis striking set of six dining chairs was designed by Victor Courtray and produced in the Northern Basque region around the city of Biarritz in the 1940s. The chairs are in solid,...Category
Vintage 1940s French Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsStraw, Rush, Oak
- Set of Six Victor Courtray Attributed Dining Chairs in Oak and Rush, 1950sBy Victor CourtrayLocated in The Hague, NLThis striking set of six dining chairs was produced in the Northern Basque region around the city of Biarritz in the 1950s. The design is attributed to Victor Courtray. The chairs a...Category
Vintage 1950s French Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRush, Oak
- Frits Schlegel for Fritz Hansen Set of Six 'Husum' ChairsBy Fritz Hansen, Frits SchlegelLocated in Waalwijk, NLFrits Schlegel for Fritz Hansen, set of six 'Husum' chairs, elm, beech. Denmark, 1930 Danish designer Frits Schlegel created the 'Husum' chair which got manufactured by Fritz Hansen...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsElm, Beech
- Frits Schlegel Husum Chair by Fritz Hansen, 1930By Fritz HansenLocated in Valby, 84Rare and important Frits Schlegel Husum chair produced by Fritz Hansen in the 1930’s. The chair is designed by the danish architect Frits Schlegel for the...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Elm
- Pair of Armchairs by Frits Schlegel for Fritz Hansen Model 1641 Denmark 1940'sBy Frits Schlegel, Fritz HansenLocated in Bonita Springs, FLAn incredible set of armchairs design by Frits Schlegel for Fritz Hansen. The armchairs are a perfect combination of beech and woven jute. They are a beautiful example of Scandi...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsJute, Beech
- Set of Four Dining Chairs of Mahogany by Fritz Hansen, 1930sBy Fritz HansenLocated in Lejre, DKThe set of four dining chairs by Fritz Hansen from the 1930s is a classic and elegant example of vintage furniture. Fritz Hansen, a renowned Danish furniture manufacturer, is known ...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Mahogany
- Spindle Back Lounge Chair by Frits Schlegel Model 1594 for Fritz Hansen, 1940sBy Fritz Hansen, Frits SchlegelLocated in Bridgeport, CTA superbly styled model 1594 lounge chair attributed to Frits Schlegel and made by Fritz Hansen in the early 1940's. Very rare find in today's market. The chair was seen in Fritz Han...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Beech
- 1930s Elm Church Dining Chair, Set of SixLocated in Hook, Hampshire1930s Elm Church dining chair – set of six 1930s Elm Church dining chair – set of six. England has a wonderfully rich heritage for making chairs....Category
Vintage 1930s English Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak