The felt between the metal and the leather is also correct for Vodder production Chieftain chairs. I would suppose that if Skinner looked at the chair they would have ruled out there being even a faint impression of a Vodder stamp, which should be located on the reverse side of the front seat support stretcher. However, if you have not done so already, taking a bright flashlight and raking it across this area at a very sharp angle might reveal a subtle impression of stamped lettering. It is not unheard of for there to be very faint Vodder heat stamps.
This is a fascinating chair. Can we see some overall photos of the chair from a bit further back?
Are the screws underneath the arms original?
I have a couple of vague theories about this chair. It would help to establish the timeline better before I spout off nonsense, especially since it might become nonsense I see mirrored across the internet for years to come. Can we see photos of the receipts you do have (I understand that they do not show this chair)? Also, when she ordered these things, I assume it was for delivery later, so was she living in Europe?, the USA? Were these things presumably ordered via mail or phone at a distance, or from more local retailers of Danish furniture.
Some of the answers will have to wait until my mother returns home at the end of the month and searches her filing cabinet.
My grandmother saved the money to build a house designed by Harris Armstrong and traveled to Scandinavia to order the furnishings. The items of furniture that I have/did once own were all Danish manufacturers with no US retailer markings. The only catalogue I have is for Walter Lamb patio furniture.
As far as I know it is all original, but my mother and I have only had continuous possession of it since 1984. My Grandmother has passed away.
Excellent work tchp. The only 1990s documentation I can find of the Baker version is from p. 66 of catalog no. 6 of the short lived Portland, OR retailer Full Upright Position (pre DWR and similar in concept) from 1999 when reissuing modern classic furniture was the new black.
The book called Danish Chairs by Noritsugu Oda published in 1996 and 1999 has good 2D line drawings of well known Danish chairs including the Chieftain chair.
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