Finn Juhl Chieftain Chair Identification  

Excellent tchp.
I am very surprised to see such discrepancy's to the design between the manufacturers particularly the later editions use of gluing the horned finial as a doweled cap. perhaps they chose to do this for structural reasons but it is not as elegant a finish as the earlier chairs.

The 90's Baker edition is truly atrocious. It might be worth noting that it was not approved by Finn Juhl. In the very early 1950s he personally travelled to the USA to approve Baker's work. I think if you look at the changes that were made, reducing cost is the unifying element. The arm support that is made from a thin piece of wood instead of a thick piece that has been carved down to leave a thick support underneath armrest makes it particularly obvious.

I did not notice this on the first read through; a handy list of maker's marks:
http://www.thomaspenrose.com/finn_juhl_marks.htm
And at the end a mystery mark puzzle:

Very good work, tchp. In prior searches, I have had a hard time tracking down info for the NRA and IS versions.
On a related topic, does anyone have catalog or production info for the 90's Baker Juhl re-issues? I've done quite a few searches and it's hard to find any info on this. Based on what I could find, I have come to the conclusion that this all-cane version of a FJ 51 (#402 1/2 for the 50's Baker version) was a 90's-only Baker production. Is this a correct conclusion?

Thanks cdsilva, I too have had no success finding any catalogs or ads for the 1990's Baker releases. I did see a newspaper article regarding the Chieftain re-issue, stating that there were design changes approved by Finn Juhl's widow. I tend to agree that the changes were to simplify construction, lower costs, and address a lack of skilled, trained workers.

The caned FJ51 chairs were definitely 1950s productions (possibly 90s also). I purchased a set from the original owners with a table that came with the factory box for the leaves. Even the cardboard box is well made. No catalog but a few pics of the box for what its worth!

Our Chieftain chair was ordered by my grandmother in Denmark in the 50s, but we have no records verifying who made it. The leather is in poor condition, so you can see the sheet metal arms, and the mark on the bottom only says 'Denmark'. Does anyone know who produced the chair?
Thank you for any information.

Post some photos. And a photo of the mark would be helpful. And a photo of the side of the joint up top by the 'ears.'
Since it is from the 1950s, that is suggestive of one maker, but it is quite odd that it would not be marked by that maker.
You don't have any old receipts or anything, even if they don't say the maker?

We have other receipts - she loved the furniture of the era - but none for this chair. Thank you for any info!

Could you send a photo of the bottom of the chair, showing the metal tabs that hold the upholstered seat to the wooden frame of the chair?

Sure. I've included one of the ottoman for good measure. I had it appraised at Skinner 5 years ago for insurance purposes and they couldn't identify a manufacturer, just that it was early. Thank you for your responses.

The chair is very interesting and has plenty of details that are consistent with Niels Vodder production. The lack of the typical heat branded stamp is peculiar, but perhaps there may be an explanation for that. The chair is clearly quite old, and the "horns" at the top of the seat back have the correct squared off joinery that was typical of Chieftain chairs produced by Niels Vodder in the late 40's up until Ivan Schlechter ceased his own production in the mid 1980's. After that, the joinery of the two pieces of would that the "horn" consists of becames a fluid, curved seam, as executed by Niels Roth Andersen, and the current producer, OneCollection/Hansen&Sorensen.
The brass tabs one typically sees on Niels Vodder Chieftain chairs are wider, flatter pieces of metal. However, there are other Vodder produced chairs that use the same type of brass tabs that your chair has, and the Chairs by Ivan Schlechter and Niels Roth Andersen also use three brass tabs that look the same as yours.
It would be interesting if you could find out what part of the the 1950's your chair was purchased, be it quite early, or later in the decade.
If you plan to sell the chair, I would not have anything done to the upholstery etc, and would leave it as it is. Its value is based on its authenticity, and its current state does help to establish its age and history.

According to my mother they visited the design stores in Scandinavia in 1955. My grandmother may have continued to order things over the next two years. She had a dining set by Arne Vodder, teak with the swinging back. She also had folding Wegner cane chairs with ottomans. My mother still has several other pieces that I haven't fully examined. I am concerned that we can't care for the Chieftain chair as we should. No one had cared for the leather in 20 years when it came to me, and then we moved from an intensely dry climate to a deeply humid one. Now it's in tough shape.
I very much appreciate all information and every suggestion.

I would be curious to see some photos of the side and the back at armrest height to see the proportions. Same for the ottoman.
What is the rectangle on the bottom of the chair where it looks like there was a sticker?