Vintage Scandinavian Leather Armchair / Desk Chair by Ingmar Relling
About the Item
- Creator:Ingmar Relling (Designer),Westnofa Furniture (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.93 in (76 cm)Width: 21.66 in (55 cm)Depth: 21.66 in (55 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 105561stDibs: LU2369345340252
Westnofa Furniture
While Norway comprises something of an unsung chapter in the history of Scandinavian modernism, an export company called Westnofa shouldn’t be overlooked. It represented a collective of the country’s leading manufacturers to promote and export their furniture worldwide. Westnofa was key to the success of Norway’s mid-century designers and furniture brands, and fostered the growth of entities that might otherwise be unknown to today’s design aficionados.
Norway’s furniture factories were largely destroyed during World War II, and while the country’s sophisticated works — designed in teak, pine and other prized woods — had earned a place in Scandinavian modernism, its output was overshadowed by big names such as Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen who’d earned icon status in Finland and Denmark, respectively. Westnofa, a name derived from “West Norway Factories,” took shape in the late 1950s in order to circumvent the limitations that the country’s furniture industry had faced in the areas of marketing and production. Some of the manufacturers connected to Westnofa were P.I. Langlo Møbelfabrikk, Ekornes, Stokke and Vestlandske.
Westnofa took great pains to devise the most cost-effective and efficient method of packing and shipping worldwide. Flat-pack assembly for lightweight shipping was the result. In neighboring Sweden during the late 1940s, DUX president and furniture designer Folke Ohlsson put the same idea into practice. Flat-pack assembly saved space in warehouses and money on transportation. It’s a breakthrough that survives today — namely at popular Swedish brand IKEA.
While it’s unclear if Westnofa also produced furniture in addition to exporting the goods of a group of manufacturers, some of the more well-known designers that are today mentioned alongside the company include Ingmar Relling, Torstein Nilsen and Jens Nielsen. Relling is best known for seating and his most famous piece associated with Westnofa is his high-backed Siesta chair, which features supple leather cushions atop a bentwood frame. Torstein Nilsen designed an elegant glass-topped bentwood dining table that is also commonly linked with Westnofa. Jens Nielsen created minimalist, sculptural lounge chairs in birch and plywood that are connected with the Westnofa name.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Westnofa seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
You May Also Like
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Bentwood, Fabric, Leather
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Bentwood
Late 20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Beech
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bentwood
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Linen, Wood
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Canvas, Plywood, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chairs
Leather, Beech
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Faux Leather, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch, Faux Leather
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
