Heinz Witthoeft (Germany 1935-2021)

Pair of ‘Tail 4’ lounge chairs. 1959. Witthoeft Stuttgart 1960s.

Pine frames with slung leather/hide. 64.5 x 64.5 x 54cm high.

Radical modernist lounge chairs that are almost never to be found as a pair – the ‘Tail 4’ design has an architectural cube frame that each houses a low slung thick leather seat. The combination of a rigid external frame and flexible seat define and enhance the seating experience. (These chairs almost cross over into the realm of sculpture – and as sculptures they pre-date and anticipate some of the later minimalist art of Sol le Wit, Donald Judd or other minimalist artists of the 60s-70s).

Trained at the prestigious Ulm School of Design, Witthoeft embodies the functionalist and minimalist spirit characteristic of German modernism from that era. His varied output as a designer included furniture systems, drawings, photographs, and graphic designs all contributed to his utopian urban vision in Post-war Germany and are embodied in the design of these chairs.

Completely original condition with a distinctive warm patina commensurate with their age.

Price: 9.500 euro (pair)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Sofa table/ coffee table. 120 x 80 x 55.3cm high. Lacquered and stained oak and plywood.

A very modestly designed constructivist table whose size measures somewhere between a dining table and a coffee table. It is particularly useful as a table at the back of a sofa as shown. The design of the table is reminiscent of the earlier modernist designs by Gerrit Rietveld/ Vilmos Huszár and the De Stijl movement. (We have images available of its ingenious construction).

This unassuming, simple table was designed by Dutch furniture maker / architect Harry Vogelaars. It is signed and dated 1998.

Note: Cassina ‘Fiandra’ leather four part sofa by Vico Magistretti also available.

Price: 900 euro

Vladimir Tatlin (Russia 1885-1953)

Tatlin Chair

Chromed steel tubular frame with black leather upholstered seat. 55cm x 70cm x 80cm high.

Vladimir Tatlin was a Russian and Soviet painter, architect, and stage-designer. Tatlin achieved fame as the architect who designed The Monument to the Third International, more commonly known as Tatlin’s Tower, which he began in 1919. With Kazimir Malevich he was one of the two most important figures in the Soviet avant-garde art movement of the 1920s, and he later became an important artist in the Constructivist movement

Designed by Russian constructivist Vladimir Tatlin (1885-1953) in 1927. The prototype for this chair was made initially in bent cane. From the 1950s it was manufactured by Nikol International, Italy with a tubular metal frame and leather seat.

Price: 1.400 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Bruno Ninaber van Eyben (NL. 1950-now)

Artifort. 1970s. Plywood.

The model 020 ‘Stick’ chair was designed by Dutch industrial designer Bruno Ninaber van Eyben in 1977.

The design is made up of three constituent parts that fit together: two pieces of angled plywood and a length of stick with a round profile. The stick in the middle connects the plywood pieces and functions as the backbone and strength of the chair.

These rare chairs were manufactured in very limited numbers due to the production costs and difficulties. Only 150 of these chairs were produced. Apart from its low production numbers the other reason that so few exist is because they can easily get damaged – Due to the stool’s fragility we recommend that it should be purchased by a design lover that appreciates its sculptural qualities rather than its functionality!

The plywood has been refinished.

Price: 3.900 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Sep Ruf (attrib.) floor lamp

Sep Ruf (Germany, 1908 -1982)

Brutalist German steel floor lamp attributed to architect Sep Ruf. Circa 1970s.

Price: 1,600 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com