Henry van de Velde Graf Kessler Diplomat's Chair
The design of this chair is closely linked with one of Henry van de
Velde's most spectacular creations, a pillar of the Belgian designer's
popularity after 1897, particularly in Deutschland: the Secessionist's
or Diplomat's Desk. The earliest version, which was more playfully
organic in style, was created for the artistss friends and patrons
Julius Meier-Graefe and Eberhard von Bodenhausen.
Not long afterwards a
more austere version of this piece was made, which took up a great deal
of space - it was nearly three metres wide - with a matching chair.
Forming a suite with matching print cabinets and bookcases, these
pieces were exhibited to great acclaim and often published. The present
chair was often ordered without the expensive desk, which, adjusted to
today's purchasing power, cost about 12 500 Euro.
After his contract
with the "Hohenzollern Kunstgewerbehaus" in Berlin was terminated, van
de Velde was constrained from 1901 to develop new models since he had
had to forfeit the copyright to his earlier work for five years. The
desks repeatedly ordered during the Weimar period went back to the
successful design of 1898/99 yet turned out to be more compact, much
simpler and, therefore, cheaper.
The elegant design of the chair
matching the desk, however, remained essentially as it had been
originally conceived, with only a few minor changes in the detailing of
the stetchers. Reflecting the use for which it was intended, the chair
radiates strength, repose and concentration on the mental work its
owner did. A salient feature of Henry van de Velde's seat furniture is
the meticulous attention he paid to line, choice of material, statics
and finishing, an approach revealing his artistic philosophy and his
claims to sensible design.
Depending on who commissioned it and in
compliance with individual clients wishes, this chair was made in
various hardwoods such as oak, mahogany and stained oak. The same holds
for the upholstery, which was of leather or various upholstery
materials, held in place by studs or braiding. A few of these chairs
are extant, in private collections and museums (Paris, Musée d'Orsay;
Nürnberg, Germanisches Nationalmuseum; Weimar, Bauhaus University and
Kunstsammlungen zu Weimar).
Design:
Henry van de Velde
Manufacturer:
ADELTA
Henry van de Velde designs
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