Ole Wanscher presented the OW124 Beak Chair at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Furniture Exhibition in 1951. An elegant mark of Wanscher’s refined design and bold pushing of boundaries, the chair was also a testament to his masterful grasp of furniture-making. The Beak Chair’s distinctive look is thanks in part to the beak-like armrests that inspired its name. This unique design feature demands carefully selected materials and skilled craftsmanship, as do the upholstered seat and back. Showing Wanscher’s preference for slender dimensions and durable shapes, the design features slim, gently curving elements that seamlessly unite in an organic flow. Only the armrest cover caps remain visible: a functional and decorative detail similar to a bird’s eye.
Ole Wanscher (1903-1985), was born in Copenhagen in 1903 and was an architect and professor of architecture with furniture designs as his specialty. He came to shape Danish furniture, both as an active designer and as a master teacher. His furniture designs are now considered to be modern classics - sophisticated and functional with an exquisite attention to detail. Construction and form was of the utmost importance to Ole Wanscher, treating furniture design as if it was a branch of architecture. He studied under Kaare Klint at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and also worked for the master himself from 1924-1927, before becoming an independent achitect specializing in furniture design. He later followed in Kaare Klint's footsteps as a professor at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with a master in furniture design.
Inspiration
Hee Welling x HAY Designer talks. In conversation with Hee Welling
Hee Welling x HAY Designer talks. In conversation with Hee Welling
Hee Welling x HAY Designer talks. In conversation with Hee Welling
Hee Welling x HAY Designer talks. In conversation with Hee Welling
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