Hi, I just bought by auction a Finn Juhl Bwana chair and for the shipment I have to dismantle it because it's too big for my car.Three screws are visible at the side of the chair, but how to take off the top of the backrest?Is anybody familiar with this chair and could give me a hint?Thanks a lot!
Not sure where you are from but from here where I am at (USA), people who can afford to buy this chair from an auction, can also afford to rent a van or a truck to bring this home (or in some cities a van that serves as a cab. On this chair, personally I will not mess up with the screws, unless you can confidently put it back the right way.
There are screws under the headrest, armrests, and four points where the seat connects to the frame. There are also screws which attach the seat to the back.
There is no mechanical attachment of the top rail, it is held on with gravity/ pressure.
You can certainly take it apart, and I have had to assemble/ disassemble them in the past, but I would only do so if you have exausted every possible option for moving it intact. If it has been assembled for many years, there is always a possibility to create loosness in joints which you would not want.
The Bwana is a great chair, and a pleasure to live with. Good luck and enjoy!
You are welcome yerblues.
While we are discussing the Bwana, I'll share this picture of mine. Besides being entirely original, in great condition with a lovely patina to the leather and having the ottoman (greater comfort) one of the most interesting things about this example is the lack of visible hardware.
It does knock down (as the design was always intended to do) but the hardware is concealed inside and beneath the rails and stretchers. The exposed hex head screws are not present. I've only seen a couple other examples of this type of construction and I assume it is the earliest version. My guess would be that it proved to be more labor intensive or expensive to make them in this manner and a decision was made to allow the hardware to be exposed.
I think it is a small difference, but one which makes the chair look more refined and more like a fine cabinetmaker piece than an industrially produced chair that comes apart.
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