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Diplomat’s chair Graf Kessler
Armchair Villa Esche
Armchair Nostitz
Reclining chair Van de Velde
Piano bench Maria van de Velde
Armchair Bloemenwerf
Tabouret / Stool
Drawing-room table Graf Kessler
Drawing-room table Gut Lauterbach
Drawing-room table Direktor Stern
Tea table Curt Herrmann

Reclining chair
Van de Velde
by Henry van de Velde

  • Designed in 1903/04 for his own flat in Weimar
  • Elegant modern design but extremely comfortable
  • Adjustable back
  • Ironical response to the reproach made to van de Velde that his was a ‘yachting style’
  • Executed in solid beechwood, cream lacquer
  • Upholstery: patterned fabric
  • Van de Velde’s own exemplars now in the Ghent Museum for the Applied Arts
Henry van de Velde - Reclining chair Van de Velde

H: 104 cm, W: 82 cm, D:90 cm, AH: 59.5 cm

Reclining chair Van de Velde

Design 1903/04

Designed in 1903/04 by Henry van de Velde for his own Weimar flat, this piece of furniture illustrates the principles of his New Style. The elegance and modern look of this model are linked with comfort, a quality totally lacking in all other seat furniture of this stylistically confused period. The back can be adjusted by means of a horizontal metal rod that fits into mortises, a beautifully simple solution. The design is modern in the best sense of the word, ‘American’, an ironical swipe at the reproaches made to the artist that, in transplanting the relaxing luxury of the sundeck of a transatlantic liner to the elegant European drawing-room, he had succumbed to the ‘yachting style’.

   He had this piece made for himself in chic cream lacquer with loose upholstery in a plain colour to match the rest of the gleaming white sofas, tables and chairs in his drawing-room. It was also delivered to clients in hardwoods with lavishly patterned fabric and leather upholstery.

   Dating from the period when his creative powers were at their height, this model was a personal favourite of Henry van de Velde’s. The two exemplars he owned himself went with him on at least seven times when he moved, accompanying all stages of his long voyage through life. Bought from the estate of his only son,Thyl, they are now highlights of the most important van de Velde collection in his native Belgium, in the Ghent Museum for the Applied Arts. Only three other exemplars are extant: in a private collection and in the Städtische Kunstsammlung Chemnitz.

Reclining chair Van de Velde, Picture taken from Henry van de Velde's presentation album (1905)

Reclining chair Van de Velde, Picture taken from Henry van de Velde's presentation album (1905)

Henry van de Velde with family in house 'Hohe Pappeln' (1912)
Henry van de Velde with family in house 'Hohe Pappeln' (1912)