Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs with Striped Upholstery, Italy 1950s
Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs with Striped Upholstery, Italy 1950s
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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur
Though most mid-20th century Italian designers may not have the same name recognition as their Scandinavian and American counterparts in the mass market, they were integral in developing a modern aesthetic in Europe. The 1950s marked a particularly important period for Italian furniture design, as postwar modernism encouraged proportion, structure and comfort.
Italian designers combined the clarity of modernist furniture with the country’s strong tradition of craftsmanship, often giving seating a more expressive and elegant character through angled frames, carefully shaped wooden elements and generous upholstery. These armchairs encapsulate these features, bringing together an exposed wooden structure and a beautiful striped fabric. Slender wooden armrests project forward from the angled supports, leaving generous negative space around the upholstered sections and preventing the chairs from appearing heavy. Cream upholstery patterned with fine blue vertical stripes runs across both seat and back, emphasising their angles. Seen together, the chairs achieve much of their character through juxtaposition in terms of construction, materials, and colours.
The pair offers generous seating without creating the visual weight of a club chair, making them an especially attractive expression of 1950s Italian modernism. They embody quality craftsmanship and design tradition in their best form.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchairs have recently been reconditioned. Due to the nature and age of the materials, the items may have some marks, scratches, and discolouration. The chairs have recently been reupholstered in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
24.02 in W x 31.69 in D x 33.07 in H; Seat height: 13.98 in; Seat depth: 27.76 in; Arm height: 20.28 in
61 cm W x 80.5 cm D x 84 cm H; Seat height 35.5 cm; Seat depth 70.5 cm; Arm height 51.5 cm
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Price category: 9,000 - 12,500 usd / eur
The Italian architect, painter and furniture designer, Guglielmo Ulrich, descended from a noble family with Danish origins. He quickly became a very influential figure in modern Italian design and his models are real delicacies today.
As this pair of 1950s lounge chairs show, Ulrich’s work is elegant and rich in detail. Although his work does not quite conform with the strict norms of simplicity of the time, it fits the prevalent aesthetics of Modernism. In the case of these chairs, the fully upholstered bodies show the general mid-century modern characteristics with an ergonomic and functional design. The seats are slightly raised, and the backs tilted, creating an angle that supports the sitter and the lounging experience. The wooden arms transcending to form the back legs however, truly stand out. The sharp curvature of the armrests and front legs define the look and create an interesting effect, as if the upholstered seats and backs were connected to them without joinery. The carved, dark wood and soft upholstery make them even more pronounced. There are more, subtler features to these chairs, including the wider armrests and the curved backrests, both in service of comfortable lounging. Thanks to the quality of his furnishings, that Ulrich designed and made personally, he became the trusted architects of many upper-class Milanese families. He participates in the furnishing of the most prestigious Italian ships: Cristoforo Colombo, Raffaello, etc.
“A nobleman of yesteryear, with sudden jokes and twists, such as a pipe with an egg in his mouth and a very concrete sense of doing” is how he was often described. This pair of chairs is much like this description with a playful, elegant design completed by quality materials and craftsmanship.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chair has been reupholstered recently in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
24.4 in W x 31.69 in D x 31.49 in H; Seat height 14.17 in; Arm height 23.42 in
62 cm W x 80.5 cm D x 80 cm H; Seat height 36 cm; Arm height 59.5 cm
About the designer:
Guglielmo Ulrich (born 1904, Milan–died 1977) was an Italian architect, furniture designer, and painter. He was born to a notable family of Danish origin. In 1924, Ulrich enrolled in the Scuola Speciale di Architettura at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera. He finished his studies at Politecnico di Milano in 1927 and soon became a very influential figure in modern Italian design.
In 1930, along with Scaglia and Wild, Guglielmo Ulrich founded and became head designer of home furnishing company Arca (Arredamento casa, or Home Furnishing), a company engaged in the creation of high-quality furnishing accessories characterized by craftsmanship and the use of premium materials. In the 1950s, he participated in several editions of the Triennale di Milano and concentrated on designing buildings, offices, and retail shops throughout Italy.
Most of Ulrich’s furniture designs from this era, and especially his chairs and chaise lounges, resemble simplified and streamlined design versions of late 19th century pieces and do not necessarily conform to modern designs prevalent in Northern Europe and the U.S. in the 1950s. In the 1960s, Ulrich focused his work toward industrial design and was able to create original and impactful objects. His talent was rewarded on many occasions. In 1961, he won the Fiera di Trieste award for his Trieste chair, produced by furniture maker Saffa.