Mystery cane chairs circa 1950 . . . I.D. anyone?

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Bernardo

(@labrucegmail-com)

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21/02/2011 8:34 pm

Hi there, I continue to search to no avail for some information on the maker of these chairs. I got them last summer and they are as sturdy and comfortable as they day they were made.

Does anyone have any idea who the maker was? Are they from different makers, do you think?

Any help most gratefully accepted.

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virtueaudio

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21/02/2011 10:23 pm

hmmm..
Ive had and seen many of these locally with different style bases and I'm pretty sure these were made in British Hong Kong in the 60's.

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Bernardo

(@labrucegmail-com)

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21/02/2011 11:02 pm

Hmmm
Well, thank you, that is very helpful. I hadn't noticed them before I saw them in a shop last summer, and don't think I have ever seen them in someone's home.

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waffle

(@waffle)

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22/02/2011 12:41 am

nice!
quite like those. I see some similar but they are always chewed up.

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straylight

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22/02/2011 5:44 am

Tropical Sun Company
The Tropical Sun Company operating out of British Hong Kong in the early 50's is the only named manufacturer that I know of from that part of the world during this time period doing this kind of work, they were responsible for the wrought iron and wicker "Labba Chair" which was included in the 1953 Good Design exhibit.
Undoubtedly there were others doing similar work. Looking at the construction I would hazard a guess that this chair was manufactured no earlier than the late 50's/early 60's.

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loft24

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22/02/2011 6:13 am

I've seen similar...
I know of a couple locally that are marked "Tropicane" - very similar to the chair on the right.

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Bernardo

(@labrucegmail-com)

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24/02/2011 4:17 am

Thanks!
Well thank you for that, it is most informative.
There is something reassuring knowing the background of a piece. I had heard of Tropicane but was unable to source any photos so it was a bit of a dead end.
Research on the Labba chair reveals the identical support structure fastening as my chairs. Very interesting.

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SDR

(@sdr)

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24/02/2011 6:14 am

I like the way
the camera flash shadow makes all the legs appear to be tapered steel rather than simple rod. Clever. . .
The chair in the foreground could be called "Chairy" -- after the welcoming sitter in Pee-wee's Playhouse. Cheery, too !

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straylight

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26/02/2011 8:00 pm

Ficks Reed
FWIW Ficks Reed was an another company doing this kind of work in the 50's

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CAC

(@christopherandrewculleyyahoo-com)

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27/02/2011 7:53 pm

I saw this
one on the eBay - different but similar and the seller has some vintage catalog shots.
http://cgi.ebay.com/EAMES-LOEWY-WAKEFIELD-ERA-PIN-LEG-WICKER-LOUNGE-CHAI...

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straylight

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28/02/2011 6:34 am

EBay chair is 1959
Curiously I just found historic reference for the chair on ebay that CAC mentioned. That one is produced in Hong Kong (unknown manufacturer) around 1959. Still nothing concrete to identify the two chairs which are the subject of this thread 🙂

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