The Piece
An early postwar hardwood folding chair with a sculpted slatted “saddle” seat—decidedly older than typical 1960s models. Hand-set slats, a gently arced front rail, and straightforward steel pivots point to circa 1947–1958. It folds flat, sits sturdy, and carries the warm patina only real wood earns over time.
Design & Construction
→ Form & Style
Clean A-frame stance, straight back rail, and subtly splayed legs. The arced front seat rail gives the slat deck a comfortable curve—an earlier workshop detail.
→ Seat
Individually fastened hardwood slats (not plywood) create a ventilated, contoured surface; small brads/screws along the rails signal hand assembly or short-run production.
→ Frame
Solid beech/oak rails with dowel/mortise-and-tenon style joinery and a lower stretcher for racking resistance. Simple steel side pivots fold smoothly—consistent with late-’40s/’50s hardware.
→ Finish & Patina
Walnut-brown varnish/oil with softened edges and light wear. Cleaned, conditioned, and tightened while preserving authentic age.
Dimensions
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Width: 16.5″
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Depth: 18.5″
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Height: 31.0″
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Seat Height: 17.5″
History & Provenance
In the late 1940s–1950s, American and European workshops advanced all-wood folding chairs for real living spaces—lighter and finer than prewar types, and more furniture-like than later metal/plywood iterations. This example’s hand-fixed slats, doweled frame, and arced front rail anchor it in that 1947–1958 window, reading older than the vinyl-padded dining models that followed.
Condition
Very good vintage. Structurally sound; no wobble. Slats are secure with minor age marks at fasteners; even, hand-rubbed sheen.
Product Details
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Maker | Unknown workshop (American or European) |
| Year | Circa 1947–1960 |
| Origin | U.S. or Europe |
| Style | Early Mid-Century / Utility |
| Materials | Solid hardwood (beech/oak), steel hardware |
| Color | Walnut-brown |
| Condition | Very good; light, honest wear |
| Dimensions | W 16.5″ × D 18.5″ × H 31.0″; SH 17.5″ |
Why It’s Special
An earlier, all-wood folding chair with sculpted slats and honest joinery—older, rarer, and warmer than common ’60s versions. Functional, space-savvy, and quietly beautiful.