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Good Questions: Identify This Chair?

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I have four chairs I've had for a while that I love. I would like to know what kind of chairs are they, and who is the designer. I know it looks a bit like a Wassily chair but it's not. I actually like mine even better, because it's simpler and smaller. Any ideas? Thanks!

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

 
 

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Comments (17)

Marcel Breuer

posted by parttimedesign on February 26th 2009 at 9:34am
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This is a the Cantilever armchair by Mart Stam, designed in 1926.

It is still manufactured by Thonet, but there are many lower-priced copies available that are virtually identical.

posted by Anna at D16 on February 26th 2009 at 9:35am
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I stand corrected. Good call Anna!

posted by parttimedesign on February 26th 2009 at 9:38am
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It is commonly referred to as the Delta Chair.

posted by carijo3 on February 26th 2009 at 9:46am
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It's not Breuer? Really?

posted by ShamWOW! on February 26th 2009 at 9:56am
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I have this exact same chair! I bought mine from John Lewis.
It comes in black and a lovely nude/toffee colour. They will get better with age I am sure. Here is the link, to buy online...
http://www.johnlewis.com/230405178/Product.aspx

posted by Fred Astaire on February 26th 2009 at 9:57am
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Yes, really. This is a Mart Stam design.

This is the Breuer design you are confusing it with:
http://www.thonet.de/en/products/s64n.html

These are Stam's chairs:
http://www.thonet.de/en/designer/mart_stam.html

You can read about the related patent lawsuit here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mart_Stam

posted by Anna at D16 on February 26th 2009 at 10:07am
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i got these at the Door Store several years ago for about 80/ea

posted by jkgalbny on February 26th 2009 at 10:22am
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doesn't look like the Stam either as it has only one arch under the seat and different arms.

Fred's link has the exact same photo.

posted by Enamorada on February 26th 2009 at 10:22am
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Except for that curvy thing (?) hanging below the seat, we have some that look exactly the same. We got ours at Crate & Barrel, maybe 15 years ago.

posted by Peggasus on February 26th 2009 at 10:30am
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Enamorada, sorry, I didn't realize the Thonet site doesn't show this specific chair style -- you can see it here:
http://www.bauhaus2yourhouse.com/Mart_Stam_Cantilever_Armchair-Prod59

As I said, there are MANY lower-priced copies available (from a multitude of manufacturers and distributors) that are virtually identical to the original.

The question was about who the designer was, though, and the answer is Mart Stam, regardless of the manufacturer or whether he is credited.

posted by Anna at D16 on February 26th 2009 at 10:54am
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This is, without a doubt, a mart stam chair. I restored two last year. Which are for sell, by the way.

but yeah, no doubt about it.

posted by snuggleteeth on February 26th 2009 at 10:54am
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Hi Everyone,

I have a similar situation. I found this chair in the trash (sans cushion):

http://hivemodern.com/products/?view=sub_product&sid=1862&cid=2&cid2=3

In the description it says that each authentic copy has a signature stamped on it, but where? And, do all original examples have the signature? I know the chair I found is probably a lower priced repro, but I am still curious.

Thanks,

Alex

posted by alexmax on February 26th 2009 at 11:02am
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Fred Astaire --

They don't get better with age; at least, ours didn't. (they were the original Mart Stam chairs, not copies)

After 15 years, we stripped ours for parts (sending a couple of armrests to an AT reader), and trashed the rest.

The problems we had were that the armrests broke off, and the leather on the seat and back got stretched out after regular use (only a few years worth). The 2 bars underneath help maintain the tension, but they were constantly coming loose.

On top of that, we found them very uncomfortable as dining chairs, which is how we were using them. The problem was that because of the way the chair is cantilevered, you sit away from the surface of the table.

So, great looking chairs, but only recommended as side chairs who get occasional use, so let this be a word to the wise for those considering this chair.

I found a much more comfortable cantilevered dining chair in, of all places, the restaurant at the Berlin Zoo.

Haven't a clue who makes them, but they are gorgeous, as is the dining room (wish I had taken photos when we were there).

They are cantilevered in the opposite direction to that of the Mart Stam, and so you are better angled in relation to a dining table.

posted by mschatelaine on February 26th 2009 at 11:16am
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You can have the chair restrapped if the leather stretches or wears out. I did this with a chair that is similar and it's better than new. Just see your local upholstery person.

posted by dkzody on February 26th 2009 at 12:18pm
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Mart Stam chair Gordon International sells them

http://www.gordoninternational.com/GI_08_Web_354%20Mart%20Stam%20intro.htm

posted by LoriSF on February 26th 2009 at 12:32pm
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Original is the Mart Stam design, my office has the knockoff version available from Eurway.com in our conference room.

The Breuer Design lacks the armrests, a common misconception.

posted by cobberman on February 27th 2009 at 10:22pm
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