Hello All,
We know what a Wassily chair is, and the various ways to identify them.
Our question comes relating to a special type of fabric that was offered when Gavina did the chairs (1962-1968).
At the time, leather of course was the norm, and it is recorded that a canvas/fabric option in white and other colors was available, the thing is though, we do not know of anyone who actually ever ordered the variations.
I guess it was probably because the order had to go to the warehouse and who knows how long it could take you to get your special order - people probably just opted out and took the leather option from the retailer as it was faster.
If anyone knows of a person or whereabouts of a picture of the fabric option, we would much appreciate it.
We have two of the special ordered chairs and to date, have failed to find anyone else with them and are of course curious to find someone with the variation we have or further information.
We are happy to post photos of them if anyone is interested.
Canvas straps
I just purchased a pair of the Italian made Wassily chairs from Ebay from a seller in Quebec - the straps appear to be a dark brown canvas, or perhaps a faded black. they are estimated circa 1960s as they have no springs, and the black, white and mesh fabric options from Thornet had springs - these are likely earlier productions by Gavina.
I am including the link for the photo.
http://www.cafr.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280729622108&...
wassily
Thonet made the originals back in the 1920's and the material used was a very heavy cotton canvas fabric soaked in oil for waterproofing very similar to a convertible top used in cars and not leather which came in later in the 1960's made by Gavina later acquired by Knoll who still owns the rights to produced the authentic licensed version. Vintage Thonet ads (in German) also shows a red and a green version.
If you have access to see one in person in your area, your best bet is to go to a museum that showcase an example that came directly from the Bauhaus period.
The canvas on our Gavina Wass...
The canvas on our Gavina Wassily is just as you describe the old canvas used by Thonet. It is just as thick and durable as the canvas used on ragtops or old fire hoses. When we tried to do a little cleaning on them we were foiled by the coating the canvas had on it - and obvious water barrier of some sort. I absolutely love the material because it has held up astoundingly well over the past 50 years, much better than most of the leather straps I have seen of that vintage. It's a really great, durable material.
I have seen the very old Wassilys from the 20's - the one I saw had green canvas. Reminded me of the type of canvas the military would have made use of and I wondered if that's why it was used. I'm sure after WWI there would have been plenty of the material around to make use of. I haven't seen one done in red canvas, very interesting to know they are out there.
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