Mies Van der Rohe and the BRNO Chair

If you browse my inventory page, you will see I am offering four vintage Knoll International Brno chairs for sale. A modern classic, the Brno chair is elegant and utilitarian. I love this design. And to be honest, they look phenomenal with my red steel kitchen table. Hmm....do I really want to sell them?

 It's worth taking a look at its history and a few of images of the chair in its natural environment: a modern home or office place.

Knoll Productions Brno chairs have become a modern furniture classic. They have very clean lines, consisting of a steel frame in a single piece, bent into a C-shape from the middle of the back, round past the front edge of seat (to create arms), and back under the seat to create a cantilever, with taut seat and back upholstered in leather. There are two versions of these chairs, one in tubular steel and the other in flat steel. The metal was originally polished stainless steel; some modern examples are chrome plated.

Designed in 1930 for the Tugendhat House* in Brno, Czechoslovakia, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Brno chair mirrors the groundbreaking simplicity of its original environment. The design is a modernist cantilever design favored by the Bauhaus.

I think this may be the most versatile chair ever. I hope you are inspired to bring a timeless piece into your own home.

* The NewYork Times ran a great story on the property and its dire need of restoration. It's heart-breaking.

It's A Danish Mixed Breed

 I needed some chairs for the kitchen table. It was a chance to experiment with MCM and I was up for the challenge.

I was after a Danish Mixed Breed, must be comfortable enough to hang out and linger with a cup of coffee and a friend or two. Fabric must be indestructible.

Danish modern dining chairs as discovered. They came from an estate consignment that included many top name pieces. That said, John, resident expert and proprietor of Moderne had never seen anything like it, nor did he have any information about them.

The chairs are more air than chair and they had stiletto legs.
   I had to have them.



I wanted black patent leather, but ultimately the seats were re-covered in white faux crocodile pleather. Why? Because it's f-ing cool, it's unexpected (meaning it's not some boring grey or green wool blend) and my kids can't destroy or stain it.  

 

The result.
I love it.

However, I have received less than enthusiastic responses from 2 separate MCM dealers. One reaction was polite, but nonplussed. The second opinion came from a dealer in Southern California named David Somethingorother. I was trying to buy 3 more similar chairs from his website, so I sent him a quick image of the renovated chair.  After telling me they had no pedigree (duh), he shared his opinion that I paid too much for the renovation, that they looked like they were from Pottery Barn (that's just spiteful) and that I had basically ruined them. Thus ended the sales negotiation.

Bottom line: I still need 3 or 4 more chairs. Similar in style, and yes, I will renovate them as pictured here. Clearly, they will not be coming from El Segundo. I am inclined to limit my interstate commerce to NorCal at this point.  

  

The legs are not teak, so I had no guilt about the black stain. Well, OK I had some residual guilt, but they weren't teak in the first place so I let it go.



The backs of the chairs look great with our red steel kitchen table.

  

So they aren't some fancy brand name and they had humble beginnings, but that doesn't mean that MCM can't be chic and fun anyhow.

Danish and A Doughnut

A near mint Conant Ball American Danish modern-style slat back armchair purchased from Antiques Moderne. The wood has a beautiful patina but the cushions were dirty and dated. Way more than I wanted to pay, but it is in excellent condition.

After renovation. New seat cushions and a a little buff here and there.



True confessions: I hate plaid. I mean I really really loathe it.  However, I found this silk blend and it immediately caught my eye. Why? Because it's a great retro plaid. It reminds me of the swim shorts boys wore in the 60's. Go daddy-O!

 

Rear view. Nice lines. 

 

Conant Ball stamp.



And...is this the most beautiful doughnut you've ever seen?

More Mid Century Modern Furnishings!

Pair of Armchairs

Before. A pair of armchairs in turquise and ecru vinyl.

  

Art Deco inspired print in silver and plum. The Danish modern armchairs now exude glamour.



A lovely rear view.

Danish Modern Kitchen

Fabulous Danish Modern dining chairs re-examined by Modern Hindsight.

Now where can I find three more just like them?

 

A Pair of Dunbar Chairs



The Dunbar arm chairs. I have looked high and low for a similar chair in the Dunbar rolls and have only found one, without the side panels. The chairs carry the Dunbar marker, so I believe  they are authentic, however, my guess is that they are not (unfortunately) associated with the illustrious Edward Wormley hence no pictures, no history, nothing.

 

Look at those lines. The chair seems to propel the seated guest forward.  

 

Unfortunately I do not have the "before" pictures. Take my word for it, they were pretty bad. These chairs and the table were discovered at Antiques Moderne in Dallas. Re-covered in a manly modern square texture pattern in grey toned neutrals. The wood had a gorgeous patina and was simply cleaned and polished.

Rear view. Lovely slats.