Genie Armchair from Gispen, Netherlands

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Description

From military barracks to a designer armchair for the home: a unique gispen armchair this isn’t just any vintage armchair, … Read more From military barracks to a designer armchair for the home: a unique gispen armchair this isn’t just any vintage armchair, but an authentic piece of dutch design with a fascinating story. This chair comes from the military barracks in vught and subsequently served at the engineering museum there. After years spent in the basement, we recently purchased a batch of more than 15 pieces in need of restoration, some of which are marked on the underside with the gispen brand name. Sturdy and “vandal-proof” government design. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, gispen was one of the main suppliers to the dutch government and the ministry of defense. Because the furniture in barracks and government offices was used intensively, it had to be indestructible. While gispen was still best known in the 1930s for its elegant, rounded tubular frames, designers such as a.r. Cordemeyer shifted to a sleeker, industrial design in the late 1950s. The result? an extremely sturdy, square steel frame combined with warm wooden armrests. A perfect balance between functionality and mid-century aesthetics. Exclusive project furniture. This armchair almost certainly comes from a special project line (such as the commercial bz or az series) that was never available for sale to consumers at the time. It was designed exclusively for furnishing, for example, officers’ quarters or reception areas, relaxation and recreation rooms, and canteens on military bases. A rarity outside the barracks. Because this barracks furniture was delivered directly to the ministry of defense and was often destroyed after the barracks were closed or renovated, this model is quite rare on the open market. The fact that this particular piece survived and has since been beautifully restored makes it a unique, historic, and stunning object for the true enthusiast! the restoration. •the chair was completely disassembled and cleaned; the armrests were thoroughly sanded, refinished with oil, and then varnished. •the frames, which are heavy and solidly constructed, were cleaned and thoroughly inspected where necessary. •the upholstery has been completely reupholstered in the beautiful “odense petrol” fabric by switch, a first-class furniture fabric with a subtle retro twist thanks to its lovely bouclé effect. Of course, the interior has not been overlooked either; this armchair has been completely rebuilt with new padding and offers the comfort of a brand-new piece.

country of origin: netherlands
manufacturer: gispen

height: 86 cm
seat height: 45 cm
width: 62 cm
seat width: 52 cm
depth: 70 cm this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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