The style has its roots in the campaign furniture of the 19th century. Danish furniture designer Kaare Klint based his 1933 design for a 'safari chair' on the Rorkhee chair, which was created by British Army engineers stationed in the Indian town of the same name. Swedish designer Arne Norell put his own unique twist on the style with his 1964 "Sirocco" chair, and in 1965 Jens Quistgaard created a version in wood and chrome. Owing to the design's long history, it's possible to find many different variations — in leather, canvas, or even animal hide, all with their own unique appeal.
Shown above, left to right:
1. Safari chairs look right at home in this airy beach cottage in Canada. From Kitka.
2. Home of Helena Rohner, as seen in Elle Decor.
3. A safari chair in a room at the Ace Hotel.
4. Seen in the offices of Refinery29 (via Design*Sponge).
5. Safari chairs warm up a modern interior in this photo by Magnus Anesund.
Love the style? Here are a few places to find one of your own:
TOP ROW:
1. A replica of a folding Rorkhee chair from Popular Woodworking.
2. Kaare Klint's 1933 design, after the Rorhkee chair. This pair is selling for $4,000, from 1stDibs.
3. An Arne Norell Safari chair from the 1960s; $2,250 on 1stDibs.
4. Jens Quistgaard's 1965 design (still in production) puts a modern spin on the chair's traditionally rustic materials.
5. A Hans Wegner interpretation of the design. From 1stDibs.
BOTTOM ROW:
6. A 1960s vintage Danish design, selling for about $450 on Ebay.
7. Another Danish design, this one by Eric Worts, with a tall back. $595 on Ebay.
8. This pair of black leather safari chairs is appealingly minimal. $1,200 for the pair, from 1stDibs.
9. A black and white canvas safari chair; $495 on Etsy.
10. The Rhys chair, from Anthropologie, is a modern design that shows a bit of the campaign influence.
(Images: as linked above)
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I'm going to wait for West Elm and Crate and Barrel to hop on the bandwagon, generate their own mass-produced designs, then reduce the price on them, then put them on clearance.. .THEN I'll be able to afford them.
Scandanavian Modern furniture is my favorite.
@PI, if you are diligent about checking Craig's List, you'll find original pieces at decent a price.
Our friends have a set of these that are ancient. I sat in them and practically begged him to sell them to us. I've been hunting for my own since.
These look like Wassily chairs but in wood.
Because Breuer based the Wassily chair on the Rorkhee chair, as did Le Corbusier in the design of the Basculant chair.
Thank you, NathanD. The only reason I know about the Wassily chair is because I bought one and looked up its name/history.