I’m excited about how furnishings (and power) designs change. Usually the trajectory is towards entropy or dissolution. However generally it goes the opposite approach (see Lie-Nielsen and Veritas handplanes.)
This week I’ve been deep into studying the Kaare Klint monograph by Gorm Harkaer. It’s a staggering work in each scale and scope. Harkaer covers every part from Klint’s work to his sculpture, emblem designs and (after all) furnishings. It’s the second-most costly ebook I personal, however I don’t remorse a penny.
In the present day I used to be analyzing among the pictures of Klint’s Safari chair, which was born from the Roorkee chair of the campaign-furniture period. The above photograph is likely one of the earliest chairs from 1933.
The legs are teak. And word the folded over and stitched leather-based arms. Oh and I couldn’t resist noting that the screws are clocked.
Later chairs have been mahogany or “smoked” ash, in accordance with Harkaer. “Smoking” entails coloring the ash with ammonia steam.
The chair under is a 1953 model in smoked ash with a canvas seat. Word we now have the acquainted non-stitched arms. I a lot choose the stitched arms. They sag rather a lot much less over time.
Different attention-grabbing particulars from the monograph:
- The seat coverings have been out there in leather-based, undyed linen drill or canvas in brown blue or olive.
- After Klint’s demise, his son designed a footstool to go along with the chair.
- Greater than 150,000 official Safari chairs have been made since 1933.
— Christopher Schwarz
