Rare 1930s Søren Willadsen Lounge Chair in Braided Patinated Cognac Leather, Elm
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Søren Willadsen for Søren Willadsen, armchair, leather, elm, Denmark, 1937
This remarkable and very rare armchair was designed by Søren Willadsen and presented at his award-winning exhibition stand at Dansk Købestævne in 1937. The design emerged following Willadsen's visit to the 1937 International Exposition in Paris, where the Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson introduced his pioneering Working Chair in the Swedish Pavilion. According to an account passed down within the Willadsen family, Willadsen personally approached Mathsson during the exhibition to seek his permission to draw inspiration from the design. Mathsson was reportedly delighted by the request, responding that it was the greatest compliment he could possibly receive. Although the influence of Mathsson's innovative approach to ergonomic seating is evident, Willadsen developed a distinct interpretation of his own. Unlike Mathsson's design, the seat and supporting structure are more closely integrated, and Willadsen added armchairs to the frame.
The design represents an early exploration of ergonomic seating, combining an innovative construction with a refined use of natural materials. The seat and backrest form a continuous, gently curved surface, composed of a laminated wooden framework and interwoven leather straps that adapt to the contours of the body. This construction provides comfort and flexibility without the need for conventional upholstery, lending the chair a distinctly light and open appearance. The expressive wooden armrests, angular legs, and carefully positioned stretchers further emphasize the clarity of its construction.
The armchair was exhibited as part of Willadsen's award-winning presentation at Dansk Købestævne in 1937, which attracted considerable attention. During the exhibition, it was announced that King Christian X of Denmark wished to personally congratulate Willadsen on his achievement. Following a handshake, the King took a particular interest in the exhibited interior, carefully examining the furnishings and even looking inside one of the cabinets, as reported by Folkebladet on 12 August 1937. Despite its innovative character and distinguished presentation in 1937, the armchair appears to have remained a rarely produced design, with only a small number of examples.
This remarkable and very rare armchair was designed by Søren Willadsen and presented at his award-winning exhibition stand at Dansk Købestævne in 1937. The design emerged following Willadsen's visit to the 1937 International Exposition in Paris, where the Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson introduced his pioneering Working Chair in the Swedish Pavilion. According to an account passed down within the Willadsen family, Willadsen personally approached Mathsson during the exhibition to seek his permission to draw inspiration from the design. Mathsson was reportedly delighted by the request, responding that it was the greatest compliment he could possibly receive. Although the influence of Mathsson's innovative approach to ergonomic seating is evident, Willadsen developed a distinct interpretation of his own. Unlike Mathsson's design, the seat and supporting structure are more closely integrated, and Willadsen added armchairs to the frame.
The design represents an early exploration of ergonomic seating, combining an innovative construction with a refined use of natural materials. The seat and backrest form a continuous, gently curved surface, composed of a laminated wooden framework and interwoven leather straps that adapt to the contours of the body. This construction provides comfort and flexibility without the need for conventional upholstery, lending the chair a distinctly light and open appearance. The expressive wooden armrests, angular legs, and carefully positioned stretchers further emphasize the clarity of its construction.
The armchair was exhibited as part of Willadsen's award-winning presentation at Dansk Købestævne in 1937, which attracted considerable attention. During the exhibition, it was announced that King Christian X of Denmark wished to personally congratulate Willadsen on his achievement. Following a handshake, the King took a particular interest in the exhibited interior, carefully examining the furnishings and even looking inside one of the cabinets, as reported by Folkebladet on 12 August 1937. Despite its innovative character and distinguished presentation in 1937, the armchair appears to have remained a rarely produced design, with only a small number of examples.
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Rare 1930s Søren Willadsen Lounge Chair in Braided Patinated Cognac Leather, Elm
Sale price$7,750.00
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