An underrated design? I find myself wanting one with a leather cover with the original style wrought iron frame (not folding). Anyone else dig these?
I sat in one years ago and remember liking it, especially sitting diagonally and swinging the leg around. I remember it being pretty comfy for such a minimal design.
Always sexxy
Especially with a sheepskin throw flung over it. I had one of the cheaper, newer models for years. It was my favorite until Eames came along. I had trouble keeping the cover in one piece, tho. 175lbs of me every day proved too much and the canvas tore over and over again. I presume the leather would be much, much stronger.
Who makes them these days? There was a big legal fight with Knoll a while back about the design. Hardoy was the 'official' designer, but someone else was trying to produce it.
Love them!
These were one of my first 'modern' pieces. I have two of the folding ones that I got from Crate and Barrel years ago. Yes, I know now that a folding one isn't 'authentic', but I didn't then. And it's convenient to be able to put them away in a closet when I'm not using them. Considering thet they are at least 25 years old, they've held up really, really well. I have a bunch of covers for them that I change out seasonally. They often end up being used on our porch so I even have a mesh cover can handle getting a wet.
If you want a leather cover for a reasonalbe price look up a local company. Some upholstery shops handle leather or you might have to go to a leather specialist. A friend of mine took an existing canvas cover to a local upholsterer and had two covers made. Cost $150/ea. I didn't think that was too bad considering it was all hand done and she got to pick the leather. The guy reinforced the 'pockets' that you use to hold them on with saddle leather at the joints. They came out wonderful. I have been thinking of getting some myself.
Very comfortable, in a bad...
Very comfortable, in a bad posture producing kind of way. We use them as outdoor/deck chairs. Inside in the living room, you may be wise to recommend not just anyone have a seat in one.
At least for me, they are getting a bit difficult to arise from (I'm betting though you still have some pretty good spring in your step, whitespike).
Speaking of spring, it's not even officially winter here and we were at minus 27 windchill this morning.
hudsonhonu (United State of Nebraska)
I LOVE THEM!
I have eight or nine originals that I have acquired over the years at estate auctions. No dealer wants them without the seats so I snatch them up for nothing. The cheapest I got them for was three for $2. A couple of cans of flat black Rustoleum and they are lookin' good!
I get covers at Circa50.com for about $50 for the all-weather ones. Colors are limited but I just get black. They also sell leather covers for $210-$230 depending on the size frame you have. (Yes, the originals and early knockoffs came in sizes.) For that money I'd probably just get a hide from Kysonleather for $150 on ebay and have an upholsterer stitch it up for me. I have a heavy duty Bernina home sewing machine but I think an industrial machine would be best for a leather seat. One 50 sq ft hide would be enough for two butterfly chairs.
I find them very comfortable but then I love to slouch in a chair. I sit slightly sideways and bring one knee up so that my bent leg is resting on one of the lower wings.
I'm just waiting for a deck to put mine on. Then you can all come over for a butterfly chair party. Drinks with tiny parasols will be served!
Want leather?
I know someone with a vintage butterfly chair with a leather sling. The metal frame is white (quite striking) and I think they may have the little matching ottoman/ stool. I'd have to ask them what they want for it, but if you are interested, I can find out.
I have a vintage frame with a N.O.S. black canvas cover (new old stock, it was an old generic canvas cover that I found at an estate sale, unused in the original bag) but it's not super high quality.
I'd happily part with mine inexpensively, but since the old frames don't knock down, shipping might be prohibitive.
whitespike
Agh...I really hate packing stuff like this because of the size and the hassle of finding boxes, and having a freight company do it would cost a couple hundred, I think. You'd be better off just buying the new old-style frames from circa50.com, i think.
Plus, I am holding out for a nice size ground-level deck with eight butterfly chairs on it. Srsly.
Garden Art
I have two butterfly chairs from the fifties. These were designated for my brother and I for watching TV back then. They are not my husbands favorite chairs, so I turned them into garden art. I bought McCalls pattern and constructed the cover out of chicken wire. I then placed a pot of ivy in the seat section and wove the ivy into the wire. By end of summer I had ivy covers for my beloved butterfly chairs and many compliments.
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