Beschreibung:

Hans J. Wegner (b. Tønder 1914, d. Gentofte 2007) “Valet Chair”. Prototype sculptural solid oak chair, seat with storage space underneath. Rare, early four-legged version. Designed 1951. This example made approx. 1951 by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. Provenance: Professor of Architecture Steen Eiler Rasmussen hence by descent in the family. The present chair is the prototype version of an icon of “Danish Modern”, and the story of its origin adds a new dimension to the playful nature of its design. The Valet Chair was an idea that Wegner conceived after conversations with Steen Eiler Rasmussen and Kay Bojesen around 1951. It was made in this present four-legged form for the annual spring exhibition of Danish Arts & Crafts in 1951. The exhibition designers were Kay Bojesen and Steen Eiler Rasmussen For the exhibition, Kay Bojesen designed a wall-mounted writing desk to be used together with Wegner’s Valet Chair. When seeing the setup with chair and desk, Steen Eiler Rasmussen told Kay Bojesen that all was fine except that a hook for a jumping rope was missing. Then Kay Bojesen designed his famous wooden “Monkey” that could hang on the side and still hold a jumping rope. When the Danish Queen Ingrid visited the exhibition, she ordered three desks for the young princesses Margrethe, Benedikte and Anne-Marie- The two writing desks shown on the images from the Spring Exhibition remain in the possession of the family after Steen Eiler Rasmussen A total of seven were made. The family also owns two examples of this four-legged Valet Chair, of which the chair at auction is one. How many were made is unknown but we are unaware of other examples. This chair was widely used by Steen Eiler Rasmussen in his home in Rugnsted over the years, exactly as it was intented. As he laconicly explained his wife and family: “This is a truly practical chair. I can hang both my trousers and my jacket on it and place the content of my pockets in the small tray underneath the seat ...” Present chair exhibited “Mesterværker/Master pieces” Kronborg castle, 2000. Literature: Mesterværker, 100 års dansk møbelsnedkeri, p. 14. Literature: Wegner - Just one good chair. p. 127. This lot is subject to Artist's Royalty. Artist’s Royalty In accordance with Danish copyright law, an additional royalty fee is to be paid for the purchase of works by contemporary Danish artist and some international artists who are either still alive, or who died within the last 70 years. × Read more
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