Well, I think my title sums it up really. I bought 4 dining chairs and a table at auction - I do like them, which is the important thing, I know. I feel that they are great quality, but, and here's the thing that's bothering me; they are not the chairs that I rushed into thinking [assumed] they were - and in the excitement of the auction I pressed on...actually it wasn't a life changing sum (£500 inc premiums) for the 4 chairs and a really lovely extending table. I don't have space today to take a pic of the table, but it is highly reminscent of Johannes Andersen's extending dining table with the extensions that are concealed within each end - except that the leaves on mine fit in the middle - where they are stored.
Anyway - it's the chairs that have driven me to post here tonight - see photos below. I didn't have chance to look at them properly, and neither did I go away and research....I assumed they were Moller 77.
I can now see that the top of the back rests are wrong, and that the front legs are perfectly round - I think this is 'wrong' too? They are upholstered in leather though.
Underneath each there is an elongated oval indent where a label once lived - I seem to remember Sibast had an similar shaped badge?
Feel free to tell me they're not Moller 77 (and share in my auction related 'lesson to be learned') - I would of course dearly love to be enlighted as to what I have bought - I have undertaken the usual google-athon (2 weeks on and off) but my heavy heart has rendered me devoid of enthusiasm...
thanks in advance as ever, Claire
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/files/forum/IMG_2900. 
They do look a lot like the...
They do look a lot like the Møller 77 and I can see how one could make that mistake very easily. The most obvious difference is that lower edge of the front of the seat---it curves downward on the ends and the 77 curves upwards (like a smile).
They're very good-looking chairs, though. If they're made as well as Møllers, then what the heck, keep them!
Oh, and Møllers usually have vinyl seats, not leather (if they're not woven, I mean). Unless they're early ones, maybe? So that's a plus.
Robert's link cites the...
Robert's link cites the Mogens Kold chairs being designed by Hovmand Olsen, and says they were likely "inspired by Niels Møller's #77 chair." Mogens Kold also made a Hovmand Olsen chair that is very much like the Møller #71 chair, and is often mistaken for it.
So, it seemed like Hovmand Olsen was drawing his inspiration from Møller, but then H. Moon noticed that Hovmand Olsen was listed as the designer for the #71 chairs in Møller's own catalog from the 50's (attached image). Since then though, the #71 chair is always cited as a Møller design, with no mention of Olsen. Anyway, kind of makes me wonder what role Olsen may have played in the design of various Møller chairs, and whether he was the person who conceived some of them from the start. Kind of hard to answer a question like that though.
Edit: Added second image link
Thank You All!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond so positvely - thanks moreover for the positive ID. I do feel a whole lot better about it - and yes, they are a great looking set of chairs, and I will find a place for them - if only to serve as a reminder about auction fever...
The table is in bits at the moment, but now armed with your Hovmand Olsen ID I've found the same straight away and have tried a link below. It's faded, but will respond very well to meths and oil, I'm confident that it will be stunning once I've fininshed.
I looked really hard again at the upholstery on the seats - and you're right; they are vinyl. I am not usually so dim about this, but a combination of a mental block with these chairs, and very very good vinyl applied beautifully made me see leather where there was none - and Moller where there was neither!
Re. Troeds - mercifully they always (as far as I've seen) branded their pieces.
I can't tell you how much happier I am - it's a thing I've raised before, which says a lot about me, and I hadn't realised it until I came on DA, but I hate 'not knowing' the who and when. This affliction is not the making of a quiet mind when, as it turns out, it is so hard to discover sometimes. I am eternally grateful.
http://janushome.bondandbowery.com/printitem.php?itemid=6614
ps.
I forgot to add that on Friday, after posting, I went to the wonderful restorer that I use sometimes (a truly lovely old gentleman who loves showing me around his workshop and projects) - and unbelievably, as if to torture me, fate had conspired that he had a Moller 77 in for new papercord!
I nearly fell over! It's a tiny barn in the deepest darkest countryside - the owner of said Moller chair had only this single one in the back kitchen for the cat to sleep on...
I only popped in to say hello, but could barely say a word after I saw it; sat there looking very different from my 'not-Mollers'. The back rest was decidely curved at the top, the smile was there [laughing at me!] and the front legs squared at the top.
What are the chances?!
A true collector
I admire your willingness to come onto the forum about such a topic.
Most would hesitate to do so - and it reminds me of mistakes I have made - good collectors always make mistakes.
And yours wasn't such a bad one anyways.
And if your story about seeing one at that off-the-road place is any indicator, you will have what you want in short order - I would say luck will fall your way.
Good to have you on the boards.
- A.S.
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Another version, TH Brown, made here. Have 2 hiding in the spare room, wish I'd been able to see this kind of chair made...does anyone have any links to the shaping of these curved parts?
http://www.twenty21.com.au/index.php/vintage/dining-chairs/set-of-6-teak...
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Heath, I would also be interested to see this - especially after really looking my Hovmand Olsens, and then the real deal Moller over on Friday. Such an understated design, but such robust and elegant chairs.
Thanks tinyarmada - mistakes; I've made a few, but then again too few to mention....
although they've nearly all been in auction rooms 😉
label
Hi, I know this reply comes very late but if you still have those chairs I have a picture of the missing label! I bought one chair precisely like yours for 10 euro - don't hate me, it was in a terrible shape - in Paris from a girl. Her father bought it in the late60's early 70's . The cover on mine was vynil, maybe yours was an upgraded version or someone reupholstered them along the way. Either way I think you may be happy to see the original label. The company seems to be called "M K" do you have any idea about what could be the full name of it?
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