Hi world.
Have a really curious dilemma. I have what appears to be a 1960s Swan chair. Originally in orange wool upholstery.
Here's the issue, the base is made by "Ring Mobelfabrikk" (Norway), who I understand supplied bases to the European Herman Miller (Charles Eames) factory in the late 50s/60s. It's very similar to the base used on the Eames (executive) time life lobby chair (also made by Ring Mobelfabrikk) and the Eames aluminum series of chairs and swivel chairs. (google Eames time life chair)
Can anyone tell me how a Charles Eames/ Herman Miller base is on a Arne Jacobsen/ Fritz Hansen swan chair??? The base appears to have been fitted to the chair during it's original manufacturing (not retro fitted).
I've spent countless hours scanning the internet for any info but just can't make the link between the two manufacturers.
Were "Ring Mobelfabrikk" making swan copies?
Did Fritz Hansen ever use Ring Mobelfabrikk bases??
BTW it's a 5 point base on castors (office chair?) like the Eames swivel chairs(not the usual 4 point swan static base)
I've got a photobucket link of the chair. Can anyone also tell me if the raw fiberglass shell of the chair looks like a genuine Jacobsen?? Thx!!
Regards (first time design addict user) Julian (Australia)
http://s1151.photobucket.com/albums/o625/juleshsmith/?start=all
what you have is frankestein
THe base on your chair is wrong as the original swan desk version only had 4 legs.
What appears to have happened with that one is that doner legs have been fitted.
To my knowledge FH only ever made their own and embossed the legs with either full name or FH Logo.
http://www.designaddict.com/design_radar/index.cfm/fuseaction/design_rad...
.
Failing that you could have wooden legs made like this using this material (see link) I'm pretty sure someone on here has these, brbeard or glass artist? Perhaps they could trace a template from them.
Good luck.
http://www.compwood-products.com/index.php
The search continues...
Thx guys.
What's intriguing me is the chair appears to have been definitely molded around the mobelfabrikk legs (ie not a later addition). I've searched the internet for weeks and haven't seen another like it. I would have expected to have found at least one other if this was a Ring Mobelfabrikk "copy" from the 60s.
If at least I can verify that the shell is defiantly a FH, that would be great!
My search will continue...
Jules.
Even though the legs aren't F...
Even though the legs aren't FH, I actually like the fact they are made by a company that supplied legs to (the European)Herman Miller. I'm planning on removing the castors and will put glides on.
Even though it may be a Frankenstein chair, at least (hopefully) it's made up of awesome mid-century designer parts!!!
what gives rise to this statement
"The base appears to have been fitted to the chair during
it's original manufacturing (not retro fitted)."
I can't make out the stem as the plastic bag obscures this but the stem on an original chair will happily fit into others with the same diameter.
As for ordering new legs to fit.. No idea of cost
Chair Base statement
Thx Simon.
Initially I did think someone had changed the legs at some stage and used different ones but it's the actual securing 'plate' of the base (that connects to the shell)that has "Ring Mobelfabrik' written on it. In order for this to secure to the chair, they would have had to mold in the adjoining plate within the fiberglass of the shell.
The legs are also definitely mobelfabrikk legs (as seen on the Eames soft pad executive and aluminium group of chairs.
So this tells me that all parts of the base (legs,stem and adjoining plates) are definitely all made by Ring Mobelfabrikk, and the shell of the chair must have been made to incorporate the mobelfabrikk base (as it would need an adjoining plate built with in it).
One more interesting twist... the base has a tilt mechanism (same construction as the executive Eames chairs)... so it's actually a tilting swan chair!
I'll post more pictures soon as I've just got it back from the reupholster.
Still the search continues...
Chair back from the re-upholstery!
Much better with fabric... it's what's underneath and below the fabric that's still puzzling me! I've included close up of mysterious base...
Another question that may help my quest. Does any body know which companies imported/sold Fritz Hansen or Herman Miller furniture in Australia in the 1950s/60s or 70s??
Swan chair re-upholstery
Hi nmariette.
It was a huge headache (and expense)getting the Swan re-upholstered. I actually took it back twice to the original upholsterer and even then they didn't do a great job. Ended up taking it to a second upholsterer (Martel Upholstery Richmond) who managed to fix most of the mistakes thankfully.
So, I really really recommend you make sure the upholsterer has experience re-upholstering Swan chairs because they are quite difficult. Martel specialise in mid-century furniture (unlike the first upholsterer).
Can't recommended anyone in Sydney (maybe call Martel?), but whoever you choose, just make sure they've done Swan chairs before and even get them to send you pics of the ones they've done (especially how good their hand stitching is). Fabric is also really important... has to have some stretch in it otherwise could run into problems.
Good luck!
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