History buffs remember the first presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon on Sept. 26, 1960, as the beginning of television's takeover of electoral politics. Design buffs remember the furniture. The candidates sat in identical high-modernist chairs, with curving, stately armrests. Designed around 1950 by Hans Wegner, the Danish master of 20th-century woodworking, the chair—called the Round Chair by its creator or just "the chair" by its many fans—can still be bought, thanks to PP Møbler, a... U.S. F-35A Jets Flex Muscle Amid Russia Tensions French Election: Young, Jewish Parisian Defends Le Pen A Mother’s Struggle to Feed Her Son in Venezuela Le Pen: Polarized Perspectives After Paris Attack Macron and Le Pen Face Off to Become French President Use your arrow keys to navigate between images and lots.Remember that old chestnut: What book, movie, or CD would you take if you were marooned on a desert island? I'd also want a comfortable chair for all that reading, watching, and listening, and I know which one I'd choose.

It wouldn't be my Aeron, which is admirable, but really only good for working at a desk, and which, in any case, would look silly on a beach. The Adirondack chair that stands on my terrace is more suited to the outdoors, and I like the broad arms that double as side tables, but it's not really comfortable for long periods of time. What I'd want on the desert island is my rocking chair, which is good for reading and listening (I use it for watching television), and which would also serve for the many idle moments in between. My rocker is not a Colonial antique. It was designed in 1944 by Danish furniture-maker Hans J. Wegner, who died last month at the age of 92. Wegner was one of a group of Danes responsible for what came to be known as Danish Modern furniture in the 1950s and '60s. Danish Modern was modern in a particular way. Unlike the furniture of the Bauhaus-influenced designers, which tended to look machinelike and favored chrome tubing and leather straps, Danish Modern was invariably wood, and while it was manufactured and often minimalist, it managed to preserve its ties to the ancient craft of furniture-making by incorporating traditional joinery.

It was also much more comfortable. This had partly to do with its evolutionary nature—the Danish designers were not out to reinvent the wheel—and partly with basic Scandinavian good sense, which never compromised comfort for the sake of ideology. Wegner, who studied furniture design in Copenhagen, had qualified early in his life as a master carpenter, and he never lost his appreciation for handwork. wheelchair vehicles for sale victoriaWhile still in school, he was hired by architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller to design furniture for a town hall that they were building. table and chair rentals kitchenerHe opened his own design office in 1943. patio chair covers argos

His chairs from this period (my rocker is one) are traditional in conception, but modern in execution. My chair, for example, is solid beech with a seat of traditional woven cord, but its parts are shaped and connected together with a high degree of abstract elegance. The chair's generous proportions allow freedom of movement, which is an important element of seating comfort. Wegner also produced his version of a spindle-back Windsor chair. dining chairs for sale shropshireLater he became more adventurous, experimenting with veneered plywood shells (at about the same time as Charles and Ray Eames did in the United States).backpack beach chair rio Wegner is probably best known for a series of armchairs in which a single curved piece of wood forms the back as well as the arms. adirondack chairs uk suppliers

Wegner took the general idea from some ancient Chinese chairs, and he produced many variations: frames of solid cherry, mahogany, ash, beech, and oak, and seats of woven cord, cane, and cushioned leather. The so-called Wishbone chair (Wegner did not name his designs; it appears as CH 24 in catalogs) dates from 1950 and is a classic. Perhaps the simplest of all is PP203, which has unbraced legs that also support the semicircular back and arms. table and chair rental davie flCBS bought 12 of these chairs for use in the famous 1960 televised presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon. alexander barber chair for sale The continued appeal of Wegner's furniture (most of which is still in production) is not hard to explain. rocking chair for sale ph

It is beautiful, of course, and extremely well-made. While mass-produced, it feels crafted, and the manufacturing process includes both machining and handwork. It won't bankrupt you; although prices have crept up over the years, the roughly $500 price of a Wishbone chair is still reasonable compared to much designer furniture. While many chairs look beautiful, Wegner's chairs must be used to be fully appreciated—both for their comfort, and for the tactile experience of the materials and the carved shapes. As the Danish designer once said: "A chair is only finished when someone sits in it." Correction, Feb. 16, 2007: This piece originally stated that the Nixon-Kennedy debate took place in 1961. It took place in 1960. (Return  to the corrected sentence.) Gabriel of Denmark has been used for many decades by top manufacturers to upholster iconic designs of the 20th century, and for good reason. This durable, woven fabric is soft, yet offers great strength and stability, and is manufactured by Gabriel, one of Denmark's most reputable upholstery manufacturers.

Featuring a hand-picked variety of Gabriel fabric mainstays from the Medley, Sodley and Fighter collections, Inmod offers choices featuring bright & bold pop tones and sleek, sophisticated grays and browns, so you can wrap your classic replica in authenticity. Rich in texture, our selection of Gabriel fabrics feature two to three tones, providing depth and a rich, plush appearance. It also has excellent resistance to fading and will hold its shape, preserving your classic for many years to come. Durability & stability meets vintage appeal in this plush woven synthetic blend (polyester & acrylic). Each of our Vintage Tweed fabrics are richly textured, subtly combining two to three varying colors, which together compose deep earth tones ideal for any piece and any space. Enjoy an iconic mid-century look that is soft to the touch, that won't fade, and that you'll cherish for years to come. Our Vintage Tweed collection is ideal for residential and commercial use. New Zealand Wool Tweed

Named after it's Scandinavian aesthetic, this tightly-woven blend combines the world's finest wool (from New Zealand) with luscious texture and commercial grade durability, and is available in a carefully selected spectrum of muted tones and pop colors. It's no wonder that this fabric has been a choice fabric option for the designers of original mid-century classics for over 50 years. With a wool content of 85%, our Danish Wool blend offers a softness to guarantee your comfort, and a nylon content of 15% provides performance-grade enhancements. This material is waterproof, flame & stain resistant and anti-electrostatic. Euro Cotton / Linen Blend Offering the best of both worlds, this lush blend (made by Para S.P.A. of Italy) offers an authentic recipe of 63% Italian cotton, and 37% Belgian linen, and is used globally by some of the most renowned designers of premium modern furnishings for both home and contract markets. Soft to the touch, our Euro Cotton / Linen Blend is smooth in texture and light-weight.