We got this chair for $25 at the Brimfield Antique show. It has features that lead me to believe it was designed by Ib Kofod Larsen, but I haven't seen another one like it. The swept back rear legs, the seven back supports are features I've seen on Larsen attributed designs, but the arm rests are not in his usual style. The piece is marked "Made in Denmark" (barely visible) on the back side of the front seat support.
Any ideas? Any thoughts as to how I can unravel this mystery?
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No mystery. As you suspected, it is Kofod-Larsen for Selig, model #598. Here is a vintage catalog cut and ad of a variation, the latter having raffia side panels. I think tchp might have initially uploaded the catalog cut in an earlier thread.
The three slots on each seat side, rather than continuous groove, indicates that it is early production for Selig. I don't believe I've seen images of this chair design with the continuous groove detail. That along with not many examples being out there, would indicate that the model was discontinued in favor of other, more popular models (as per the stamp on the catalog cut).
1) This thread might provide the armrest answer you are looking for, as well as additional info: http://www.designaddict.com/forum/Identification/Danish-Lounge-chair-it-...
2) Original Selig catalogs pop up every now and then on eBay, but they do not go cheaply. I think there are posters here that have original catalogs. I do not. Original magazine ads for Selig also pop up frequently on eBay. You'd need to set up alerts on eBay, then set your fishing pole out, take a nap, and wait for your model to pop up.
No problem. Post a photo once you have it all souped up. Here are my preferences for cushions for these Selig chairs (many have the same dims):
seat: 22"x22"x4" - medium firm foam
back: 17"x22"x3" - medium foam
I've done with and w/o edge piping, which is more individual preference.
Here is a good thread on how to re-strap the seats: http://www.designaddict.com/forum/Repair/Methods-for-fixturing-Pirelli-w...
Cdsilva, you are unbelieveable. Great information! Thank you so much! I will definitely post pictures once I'm done. Is it safe to assume that I should not try and refinish this piece? I'm presuming that it would negatively impact value. The finish is in pretty good shape.
Thank you so much for the dimensions of the cushions. This was also information that I needed to do a good job in reviving the chair.
We have a great Prairie style mid century modern house that was built in 1953 that this will look great in once it's done.
The finish looks pretty good to me from the photos, but it would be a quick effort to recondition it to make it look even better. There are many options and methods which you can search this site for. Most of these chairs are stained beech. I'm not sure if it's the sunlight, but yours looks more to be teak-stained than walnut-stained.
Finally, not sure if you've realized this yet, but these Selig chairs are designed for quick breakdown into five pieces via hidden keyhole joints. Once again, if you do a search on this site, you'll see plenty of threads with photos. If you look inside the keyhole joints, you can see the unstained color of the wood. There are solid teak versions of Selig lounge chairs (I've got a teak Selig Z chair myself), but I'm not sure if I've ever seen this model in solid teak.
eBay or modern-fabrics.com are good sites for finding good upholstery material at a low cost.
It has to do with the finish. If it is an oil finish that is intended to be continually renewed, you need to continue oiling it, if it is dirty, it is good to clean it. (Not that either thing is hard, but they must be done right).
Ib Kofod Larsen's stained beech Selig chairs have a finish that is very different, and not meant to be renewed, and much, much harder to redo.
Another way of looking at it is to think about whether it can be redone just like it was done at the factory. If the answer is no, then it is a reasonable to think that you will damage the value, either tomorrow or someday.
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