Svend Skipper -1960s Danish Modern Lounge Chair in Sage Faux Alligator

Details

Description

Svend Skipper -1960s Danish Modern Lounge Chair in Sage Faux Alligator

Dimensions:
Height: 30 in.
Width: 30 in.
Depth: 32 … Read more Svend Skipper -1960s Danish Modern Lounge Chair in Sage Faux Alligator

Dimensions:
Height: 30 in.
Width: 30 in.
Depth: 32 in.


An exceptionally stylish Danish Modern lounge chair designed by Svend Skipper (1919–1986) for Skipper Møbelfabrik, Denmark, circa 1960s, distinguished by its beautifully balanced proportions, sculptural profile, and wonderfully unexpected sage-green faux alligator upholstery.The chair embodies the restrained elegance of postwar Scandinavian design while introducing a decidedly glamorous decorative element through its textured upholstery. Its broad, low-slung form, gently flared arms, floating cushions, and slender tapered legs create an appealing interplay between substantial comfort and visual lightness.

Design & Construction
The chair is constructed around a generously proportioned upholstered frame with gently outward-flaring arms that taper subtly toward the rear. Their softly rounded fronts give the chair a particularly inviting profile while preserving the clean architectural geometry associated with Danish Modern furniture of the period.A loose, rectangular back cushion sits at a relaxed angle within the frame and is punctuated by two covered buttons, producing restrained tufting rather than the deeper, more formal buttoning found on traditional upholstered furniture. A secondary upholstered back support is visible behind the cushion, adding depth to the silhouette and contributing to the chair's characteristic layered construction.The broad seat cushion is similarly loose and generously scaled, resting above a slim upholstered lower deck. This layered arrangement gives the chair a distinctive horizontal composition and creates the impression that the cushions are almost floating within the surrounding frame.The substantial upholstered body is elevated on four slender, tapered cylindrical wood legs, finished in a warm reddish-brown tone that provides a handsome contrast to the cool sage upholstery. The exposed legs lighten the overall mass of the chair and give it the poised, elevated stance characteristic of sophisticated Scandinavian seating from the 1950s and 1960s.

Upholstery & Decorative Character
Particularly distinctive is the chair's sage-green embossed faux alligator upholstery. The subtle reptile pattern introduces texture and movement across the otherwise restrained modernist form, catching the light differently across the cushions, arms, and upholstered frame.The muted celadon-to-sage coloration is unusual and highly decorative without overwhelming the chair's architectural lines. Paired with the warm wood legs, it gives the piece a sophisticated palette that works equally well in a traditional interior, a layered eclectic setting, or a contemporary room incorporating important vintage design.The upholstery shows age-related variation and areas of discoloration/patina, consistent with its vintage character and visible in the accompanying photographs. These variations lend the surface additional depth while preserving the distinctive appearance of the period upholstery.

Design Significance
With its low profile, broad proportions, sculptural arms, restrained button detailing, and elegantly tapered legs, the chair captures the sophisticated simplicity for which Danish Modern design became internationally celebrated during the postwar period.The unexpected faux-alligator surface gives this example an especially individual character, transforming an understated Scandinavian lounge chair into a striking decorative statement. Its compact scale also makes it particularly versatile as an accent chair, fireside chair, bedroom lounge chair, or occasional chair within both modern and traditionally furnished interiors.A handsome and unusual example of 1960s Danish Modern seating, combining Svend Skipper's refined Scandinavian vocabulary with an exceptionally distinctive period decorative treatment . See less