10 Covetable Vintage Modern Furniture Pieces Headline A 50-Piece Collection That Is Up For Grabs
Mr. Chair collaborates with Leon Gallery, and presents a meticulous selection for an online auction worthy of the most discerning collectors
This upcoming online auction is Leon Gallery’s fourth for this year, and it will feature a large list of items—from artworks and furniture, to watches and collectible toys, and many more key pieces that’ll be instant highlights to your collection. Included in this carefully curated lineup are 50 pieces from Mr. Chair. This collaboration marks a first between Leon Gallery and Mr. Chair, both trusted sources of beloved pieces.
The Mr. Chair Eye
“We’re thrilled to be part of the Leon Exchange Online Auction this October. We feel the renowned and respectable gallery truly aligns and understands the Mr. Chair thrust and aesthetic,” says Torto Canga, purveyor of vintage chair collections and Mr. Chair himself.
Founded in 2017 by husband and wife tandem Torto and Meryll Canga, Mr. Chair started out as a hobby, turned passion project, which eventually transformed into a full-fledged vintage furniture business. Both Torto and Meryll are advocates of good design, so they search the world for exceptional, vintage collectibles that would suit the Filipino home.
Mr. Chair’s meticulous selection of vintage modern furniture and accessories are created by some of history’s most iconic designers and artists. Every piece is made with a clear and thorough understanding of movement, play, work, rest, and life. Each object is timeless, serving past and future generations in both form and function.
Investing in That Hero Piece
“When completing a home, investing in iconic vintage furniture instantly ups the taste factor of your space,” says Torto. So, Mr. Chair espouses celebrating vintage connoisseurs and advocates for breeding new collectors as well. For them, furniture and art merge beautifully with function in the thoughtful living space. And now, with the pandemic making people appreciate the need to invest in the home, Mr. Chair offers possibilities and pieces that make a lasting statement in and for your space. It’s like having a home stylist for your functional, vintage pieces.
Others may pick paintings and art, others like collecting trinkets or jewelry, and Mr. Chair joins that movement by marrying beauty and function. “A vintage collectible piece for your home is an investment piece that increases in value over time. The wear of a cared-for collectible adds to the history of the piece and the warmth and story of your home,” explains Torto.
On the Gallery Lineup
Mr. Chair is vetting 50 pieces for the Leon Exchange Online Auction on day three of the sale. These are composed of Mr. Chair collectibles, with a mix of rare, vintage, collectibles, and function-form inventory pieces.
Headlining the 50 from Mr. Chair for the Leon Exchange Online Auction are these 10 covetable pieces that they foresee will draw interest from the most discerning set:
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Pelican Chair by Finn Juhl for the House of Finn Juhl
Lot Number 1278 Finn Juhl’s fascination for surrealism became apparent in the design of the Pelican Chair, which is considered ahead of its time. The chair’s characteristic soft and organic shape is reminiscent of a body cradling a body, making it purposefully comfortable to rest on. The Pelican generates a space within itself, which implores for immersion and closeness. Aside from its curious shape and stubby legs, the piece stands out due to its bold-colored, hand-upholstered wool with complementing tufting buttons. The chair is in outstanding condition. Materials: Oak, hand-upholstered wool fuchsia Dimensions: H-68, W-85, D-76, Seat Height-37 cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
First Production Norman Cherner Bernardo Marked Chairs for Plycraft
Lot Number 1277 Known as the chair with a “scandalous past”, the Cherner Chair was once at the center of controversy with its fair share of deceit and drama, shrouding it with scintillating history. The fabricated name “Bernardo”, only found in the earliest models, was perpetuated by Plycraft to defraud Norman Cherner of his creation. All 6 chairs, in original and unrestored condition, bear the “Bernardo” label, consider making the set the holy grail of Cherner chairs. The Cherner Chair is considered an icon of the mid-twentieth century design and can be found in galleries and design collections worldwide, including the Vitra Museum. Materials: molded plywood Dimensions: H-80cm, L-47cm, W-43cm / with arm-63cm, Seat Height-44cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Qvist Rocking Chair by Peter Qvist, Denmark
Lot Number 1279 Designed by Peter Qvist, the Danish architect combines structural stability with a transparent design to create a future-forward modern classic that is functional and unique. This wooden chair is made from laminated birch veneer and polyester. Materials: Laminated birch veneer & polyester Dimensions: W-115 cm, D84 cm, L108 cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Vintage Model 925 3-Seater Leather and Rosewood Sofa by Arne Norell for Coja, 1960s
Lot Number 1280 This model 925 sofa by Swedish furniture designer Arne Norell for Coja is made of rosewood with brown leather upholstery. Item in very good vintage condition. Materials: Leather & rosewood Dimensions: H48 cm x W77 cm x D78cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Vintage Kai Kristiansen Hydraulic Bar in Rosewood
Lot Number 1281 Designed by prolific Danish furniture designer Kai Kristiansen in 1968, this show stopper rosewood bar cabinet is simple yet elegant. With a turn of a key, the hydraulic system kicks in and the bar cabinet slowly rises, revealing its beautiful interiors with built-in orange plastic bar accessories that can hold several glasses and bottles. The amazing natural rosewood grain on this piece is also unique as some of the gain patterns at the front resemble dog faces. The piece is in good vintage condition with minor signs of wear consistent with age and use. Dimensions: W 85.73 cm, H 67.31 cm, D 40.01 cm Materials: Rosewood, steel, plastic
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
1980s Original Production First Chair by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis Milano
Lot Number 1282 A staple in the collection of design museums around the world, the First Chair was designed in 1983 by architect and designer Michele de Lucchi for the Memphis group, founded by his friend and mentor Ettore Sottsass. Balancing line, plane, and sphere, De Lucchi created a chair that is both post-modern sculpture and furniture. The First Chair utilizes bright colors and geometric forms in an attempt to foster different sensations and responses from the viewer, somewhat a connotative of a child's toy. Though seeming to be uncomfortable, the First Chair proved very popular and boasts a cult following with its appropriated modern iconography, infused with space-age futurism, nostalgic nods, and bold ornamentation. It serves as an iconic representation of the greatest expressions of Postmodern design in Italy and worldwide. The chair is from the original 1980s production and displays some signs of wear consistent with its period. Material: steel, enameled wood Dimensions: H-91cm, W-65cm, D-47cm, Seat Height-46cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Verner Panton System 1-2-3 Deluxe Lounge Chair
Lot Number 1284 Original production Verner Panton Delux Lounge chair with tufted upholstery. The chair is in good condition with only the foam cushion restored . Materials: steel, aluminum & fabric Dimensions: H 89 cm, D 50 cm, W 58 cm, Seat Height 33 cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Vintage Danish Rosewood Highboard With Mini-Bar
Lot Number 1318 Vintage high board with exquisite rosewood grain patterns resembling bird feathers, which adds texture to its robust cubist shape. In addition, the built-in mini-bar is illuminated by a built-in lighting system that is automatically triggered when the sliding doors are opened, these features add to the dynamism of the piece. The high board is in its original vintage condition but can be refinished by Mr. Chair at the client’s request. Materials: Rosewood, glass Dimensions: H 125 cm, L 183 cm, D 50 cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Rare Vintage Teak Dining Table With Butterfly Extensions by Sven Aage Madsen for K. Knudsen
Lot Number 1319 Scandinavian vintage teak dining table with 2 hidden butterfly extensions built into the underside of the tabletop for easy access. The table can be expanded into 3 different lengths to suit the appropriate number of guests. The item is in good vintage condition. Material: Teak Measurements H-72cm, L 115-144-173 cm x D 115cm
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Vintage Paimio Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair for Artek
Lot Number 1288 Designed by Alvar Aalto in the 1930s, the Paimio Chair is a tour de force in bentwood that tested the limits of plywood manufacturing in that period. It is the best-known piece of furniture by Aalto and is named after the town in southwestern Finland for which he designed a tuberculosis sanitarium. The chair was used in the patient’s lounge; it was designed to help the patients breathe more easily. This particular piece is one of the most iconic chairs ever produced and can be found in various design museums worldwide: MoMA, Design Museum Denmark, and Vitra Museum in Germany to name a few. The chair is in good condition with minor signs of use. Dimensions: 66 cm x 60.3 cm x 87.6 cm Materials: Bent Plywood, Birchwood
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mr. Chair
Register online through https://www.leonexchange.com/en/auctions to bid on these 10 unique pieces and see the other collectibles. Mr. Chair urges you to rediscover the era of iconic design and welcome these pieces into your contemporary home. For more details, check Mr. Chair’s Instagram page @mrchairph and website www.mrchairph.com.
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