is this a norell ?  

A quick google search shows at least a few sofas listed as authentic Norells (the "Ilona"). The front rail under the seat cushions looks like it's got a round profile and the leather seat deck slings wrap around it. Your front rail has a squared profile with no slings. I'm guessing it's a nice "inspired by" design with a few changes for easier production, maybe.

I like it, though. I'd be happy to own one.

hi spanky,

i did the same search and came to the same conclusion as you. that front rail definitely seems to be too square.

also agree with you that it's not an unattractive piece and looks very comfortable. as i can only really afford low end / 'inspired by' pieces anyway, it will fit right in at my house 🙂

i do have a scirocco chair by norell with the label on. do you know if he used any other form of marking that i could use to identify the piece when i go to look at it ?

thanks for your help and have a good one !

cheers,

bb

I don't know a thing about Arne Norell, so I can't help you there! Sorry. Others on DA will be more of a help with that than I am.

I know that designers generally did not make less expensive versions of their designs (I'd say none of them ever did but then someone would come up with an example--so I'll just say it would be very unusual.)

I also know for sure that designers' work was copied with small changes that obviously made production faster and cheaper--while not necessarily taking anything away from the basic quality of the piece. So you could have a well made sofa, just not quite the one that Arne Norell designed. Some copies were made in the far east but others were made in Scandinavia, and many pieces were copied back in the day, not recently.

//

thanks spanky,

i'm also guessing it's more or less contemporary to when norell was designing. perhaps a bit later. my experience of copies made in the far east is that they are basically knock-offs that focus on the big names and big name pieces ... i can't see them doing that with this piece so i agree with you, probably scandinavian with, as you say, small changes to make production quicker and cheaper... and avoid possible legal problems 🙂

thanks anyway !

bb

You'd be surprised---there are very close vintage copies of Eric Buck chairs that were made in Thailand. Near copies of this Domino M

fake jensen vikings is just wrong.

cheers again and have a good one !

bb