Rare Pair of Clam Chairs in Ivory Sheepskin by Arnold Madsen

Arnold Madsen for Madsen & Schubell rare pair of Clam chairs with birch arms and legs and newly upholstered in luxurious ivory curly sheepskin or shearling adorned with camel leather buttons, Denmark, 1944. These iconic modernist Scandinavian Clam chairs have a characteristic organic shape that is built with impeccable craftsmanship and exhibiting classic minimalist design with soft curves throughout including gently curved back, seat, and arms, and resting on club-shaped birch legs. The name comes from the shape of the seat and back that together form the silhouette of an open clam. The back is slightly tilted while the seat is slightly raised towards the front to provide conformity to the body and great comfort. Fully restored and newly reupholstered in Skandilock ivory or off-white curly sheepskin.  Skandilock is a renown Swedish company known for their unique sheepskin processing techniques and high-quality materials, often sourcing from Australian Merino crossbreeds.

The Clam chair was designed in 1944 in Copenhagen and has become an icon of the Danish Modern design period. For many years this mysterious chair had been credited to Danish architect Philip Arctander.  However, recent research has confirmed the true designer to be Arnold Madsen. The "Musling stolen", as it became known, was the first collaboration between designer Madsen and cabinet maker Henry Schubell and it set the foundation for many years of prosperous collaboration between the pair.