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Kurt Østervig

Kurt Østervig Walnut Dining Chair, Denmark 1950s

Documentation

Documented elsewhere (similar item)

Origin

Denmark

Period

1950-1979

Materials

Walnut, Leather

Dimensions

W.	18.5 in;	H.	29.92 in;	D.	19.29 in;
W.	47 cm;	H.	76 cm;	D.	49 cm;

Condition

Good. In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some scratches and marks. The seat has recently been reupholstered in a premium leather.

Creation Date

1950s

Description

Walnut chair by Danish designer Kurt Østervig, manufactured by Brande Mobelindustri Denmark in the 1950s.

This chair, like his 57a lounge chairs, is one of Østervig’s most famous chair designs, with visible joints in the back and an upholstered seat with brown leather. Using walnut as his medium, Østervig designed this chair to be minimalistic, yet aesthetically distinct. The lines are gentle, the backrest and seat are slightly curved to accommodate the human body. The chair gives and airy feel, while the sturdy walnut provides a firm and reliable base. The overall design emphasizes the wood grain and texture, foregrounding the natural beauty of the wooden material.

About the designer:
Kurt Ejvind Østervig was born in 1912 in Odense, Denmark. He was originally trained and worked as a shipbuilding engineer. However, by the 1930s Østervig shifted to furniture design because of his passion of woodworking.

His career as a furniture designer began at E. Knudsen’s architectural design studio in Odense. In 1947, Østervig opened his first own studio as a freelance furniture designer, with a focus on modern design. In the following decades Østervig worked with many of the leading Scandinavian furniture producers of the period.

He was exceptionally versatile, designing furniture for hotels, cinemas, and won numerous design competitions during his career. He won at the Milan Triennale in 1953 and in 1960. In the 1960s, one of Østervig’s designs was selected for an exhibition at the MoMA in New York.

Østervig had a flair for the dramatic, infusing his furnishings with unique elements that stood out. From elegant, organic to coarse and purely functional furniture, his versatility earned him recognition.~H.

Styles / Movements

Mid Century, Modern, Scandinavian Modern

Dealer Reference Number

20180119

Incollect Reference Number

357410