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Items Similar to Leather and Oak "Safari" Chair by William Kienzle, ca. 1950
Mid-Century Modern “Safari” Chair in Leather and Oak by Wilhelm Kienzle, 1950s
Mid-Century Modern “Safari” Chair in Leather and Oak by Wilhelm Kienzle, 1950s
Mid-Century Modern Leather and Oak "Safari" Chair by Wilhelm Kienzle, circa 1950
Mid-Century Modern Leather and Oak "Safari" Chair by Wilhelm Kienzle, circa 1950
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Swiss Mid-Century Modern Leather and Oak Safari Chair by Wilhelm Kienzle
Wilhelm Kienzle Leather Safari Chair 1950s
Wilhelm Kienzle Leather Safari Chair 1950s
Vintage Mid Century Modern Leather “Safari” Chair after Wilhelm Kienzle
Vintage Mid Century Modern Leather “Safari” Chair after Wilhelm Kienzle
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Leather and Oak "Safari" Chair by William Kienzle, ca. 1950

$2,200
£1,673.44
€1,928.99
CA$3,123.54
A$3,352.26
CHF 1,796.94
MX$40,342.86
NOK 22,656.77
SEK 20,659.83
DKK 14,409.58

About the Item

LEATHER AND OAK "SAFARI" CHAIR Designed by Wilhelm Kienzle in 1928, this example circa 1950 35 3/8" H x 22 1/4" D x 22 1/4" W x 14 1/2" H to seat First conceived in 1928 by Swiss designer Wilhelm Kienzle, the “Safari” chair has become one of the most recognized expressions of early modernist furniture. An example resides today in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein. The present chair, produced in the 1950s by Wohnbedarf of Zurich, is constructed of solid oak with thick, rawhide leather sling seat and back. The leather bears a striking natural surface, enriched by decades of wear, oils, and use, while the construction itself reveals both ingenuity and restraint. Kienzle’s design combines durability with a collapsible, lightweight format, offering not only comfort but also an enduring symbol of modernist ideals executed with traditional craftsmanship. In writing about the chair in the Vitra Design Museum, Claude Lichtenstein notes: *"This dismountable chair was created by the Swiss designer Wilhelm Kienzle. It is an adaptation of a model used in the nineteenth century by British colonial officials during their work-related travels, which Kienzle had seen in London in 1928. Its advantages are that it is lightweight and takes up little space. The chair’s legs are connected by round bars, which are inserted into the open seam of the seat cover (in copies with the original cover). Similarly, the cover is affixed to the movable backrest, which is attached to the upper ends of the back legs with a pivot pin. The leather strap armrests are fastened to the legs with brass buttons. Since the chair’s frame is not independently stable, leather straps stretched between the chair legs bear the lateral load of the seated individual. In the interwar period, others – such as the Danish designer Kaare Klint in 1933 – created variants of this chair type. Kienzle’s design most likely was not mass-produced until after 1945 by the Swiss interior design company Wohnbedarf. In the post-war period it became the very embodiment of a non-conformist lifestyle."* We currently hold several examples of Kienzle’s oak and leather “Safari” chairs in the shop. Shipping Note: This chair will be shipped fully disassembled to minimize freight costs; reassembly will be necessary upon arrival. Condition: The original leather stained and discolored with a wonderful overall patina, remarkably comfortable and most enjoyable to sit in; darkening and overall oxidization along with light wear to the oak surface; rubbing and wear to the leather inside the back where the nuts attach; dryness and cracking to the leather belting and arm straps. A very fine example that is beautifully preserved with rich surface history. About silla antiques art Established in 2009, we have available in our 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery an ever-changing selection of carefully curated and catalogued furniture, decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and estate jewelry. Our company has long specialized in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display. The gallery is located at 117 W Burd Street in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and is open by appointment only. We welcome your visit and would love to meet with you at the shop. For clients located outside of the area, we are always available to discuss items by video conferencing or by phone.
  • Creator:
    Wilhelm Kienzle (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35.38 in (89.87 cm)Width: 22.25 in (56.52 cm)Depth: 22.25 in (56.52 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Leather,Oak
  • Place of Origin:
    Europe
  • Period:
    20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Shippensburg, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 405ZPF07Q-021stDibs: LU1059046897932

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