The Pelikan chair by Finn Juhl  

Fun. I'll take seven of...
Fun. I'll take seven of them. Let me retrieve the change from under the sofa cushions.

whitespike, none taken....
whitespike, none taken. Hence the smiley. I can't even imagine being offended by a differing view on a sofa.
Ah, yes, the Organic Furniture competition. That could be the connection, although I can't remember it being mentioned in conjunction with the Pelikan chair. Perhaps the answer is in the Finn Juhl book I picked up at the library today.
Pegboard and M_Andersen, thanks for those elaborate answers. From what you are telling me, the comfort level seems just right. I agree though that it needs its space to really shine. Considering the size of my apartment, that is my main concern. Another is the lack of armrests, but I think I can live with that. Either way, it is safest to try before buying. That will give me a good reason to visit the museum as well.
As for the price, I may have to start a support group. Or did I just do that? 🙂

Just check the web site...
Just check the web site www.onecollection.com, it has a sheepskin version. How much is it? it is so lovely !!!

Just tried it!
I was just walking home the other night and saw the Pelikan in the window of Design Within Reach and so went in to try it out. I couldn't remember if it had been discussed on DA before...lo and behold it has.
Unlike some others on this thread I wasn't really in love with the design ...until I tried it out. It is remarkably comfortable! And much smaller than I had expected from photos. In terms of a reading chair I think it would work out fine if you're average height/weight. I'm 5'9" and I could rest my arms along the top of the wings. What I really liked was how the wings rise up on both sides, so you can sit asymmetrically. Thats the one minor issue I have with the Eames - if I lean off to one side the armrest gets in the way.
Anyway, its a beautiful piece. Their website lists it from about 5K upwards... so maybe if Whitespike and I combine our change jars.

Fear Not
Our good friend "Ark of Decorative Arts" should be able to purchase one for $20.

i don't know how you can...
i don't know how you can take yourself seriously sitting in a chair that looks like a deformed whale.

I'm sure you could relate to...
I'm sure you could relate to the whale in other ways.

Lit Up
You're such a bore, mate.
Do you actually like design?
Or merely the act of pedaling design?

Fear not
woodywood,
Thank you for thinking of me.

You're welcome
I shall expect another great war story from you within the coming months.

Lit
Taking yourself seriously is far too overrated...

Gentlemen
Please be courteous and stay on topic. Thank you.
I ended up with a Kofoed-Larsen chair instead. Some of you have seen it in my previous posts. A better match for my budget, and a great chair, but I am still lusting for the Pelikan. And for a Papa Bear chair, of course.

I was on topic
Chairs convey all sorts of emotions. The Papa Bear feels like a stuffy mans chair, while the Swan chair feels ever so feminine. Wegner's Ox & Bull Chairs exude aggression while Jacobsen's Giraffe chair is downright silly. The Egg chair is inextricably linked to Dr. Evil and the SuperLeggera is a visual whimper of fragility. Most of Panton's chairs could share the stage with Cirque du Soleil, while Mies' are ever. So. Serious.
LitUp posited that one must take oneself serious, and therefor have a serious chair. (i.e. not the Pelican) I posited a different approach - that taking oneself seriously is overrated - ergo I could easily (except for the dollar amount) own a Pelican.