Pair of bentwood armchairs by Jan Vanek

Two armchairs in stained bent beechwood, with off-white herringbone cotton straps. Designed by Jan Vanek for UP Zavodny, Czech Republic, circa 1935.

• 2 pairs available
• Woodwork carefully reprocessed by us, new strapping.
• H 77 cm – 64 cm D 80 CM
• Seat height 36 cm

Jan Vaněk, a pioneer of Czech modernist bentwood furniture

Long before Czechoslovak furniture reached its golden age during the 1950s, Jan Vaněk helped shape the emergence of modern Czech design, based on functionality, clean lines, and quality craftsmanship. As an interior architect, entrepreneur, and theorist, he contributed to the development of UP Závody, a company that would play a major role in the spread of modernist furniture across Central Europe. Today, his creations are a benchmark for lovers of design and vintage sideboards.

This pair of armchairs perfectly illustrates Jan Vaněk’s philosophy. The wide bentwood frames form a structure that is as elegant as it is robust, while the wrap-around armrests naturally extend the lines of the base. The design prioritizes comfort without ever sacrificing the purity of form characteristic of Czech modernist furniture.

The influence of Czechoslovak furniture continued after the Second World War with figures like Jindřich Halabala, who expanded the UP Závody collections, and then during the 1960s with Ludvík Volák. While each had a personal style, they all shared the same commitment to quality and contributed to the prestige of Central European vintage furniture. Today, Jan Vaněk‘s creations remain among the most sought-after by collectors.

Modernist bentwood armchairs designed by Jan Vaněk, a major figure in interwar Czechoslovak design.

Ludvík Volák’s creations extended the legacy of Czech modernist furniture into the 1960s.

The armchairs retain their original upholstery, showing normal signs of wear from several decades of use. A strip of fading is visible on one of the chairs, and one seat is slightly firmer than the other. The woodwork has been carefully restored to preserve the delicate curves and the patina acquired over time.

In a living room, office, or bedroom, this pair of retro armchairs creates a particularly refined relaxation area. Placed near a 1950s floor lamp, a small floor lamp, or a living room lamp, they create a warm atmosphere where light highlights the curves of the wood. Paired with vintage lighting, these armchairs testify to the timelessness of Czech design and the elegance of 20th-^century modernist furniture.