Pair of modernist bentwood armchairs by Jan Vanek

Jan Vanek for Up Zavody, pair of bentwood armchairs, Czech Republic, circa 1935

• Impeccable, totally refurbished by our restorer, new strapping in ecru ribbon.
• H 77 CM X D 72 CM X W 63 CM
• H sitting 36 CM

Jan Vaněk, one of the founders of modern Czech design

Considered one of the pioneers of Czech design, Jan Vaněk (1891–1962) played a major role in the evolution of modernist furniture in Czechoslovakia. An interior architect, publisher, theorist and entrepreneur, he championed functional, elegant and affordable furniture from the 1920s onwards, perfectly aligned with new ways of living. His work contributed to the development of UP Závody, which would become one of Central Europe’s most important publishers of 1950s furniture.

Jan Vaněk maintained close ties with the European modern movement and collaborated with several major figures of 20^th-century architecture, including Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. His company notably took part in fitting out the famous Villa Tugendhat in Brno, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of the masterpieces of modernist architecture.

His creations stand out for a remarkable mastery of bentwood, whose flowing lines bring lightness and elegance to the seating. Free of any superfluous ornamentation, his designer armchairs focus on the quality of proportions, comfort in use and the nobility of materials. This approach foreshadowed the evolution of post-war Czechoslovak furniture and would influence an entire generation of designers.

Pair of 1950s retro armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, a classic of vintage bentwood furniture combining elegance and comfort.

Room divider by Ludvik Volak, Czech modernist designer.

Among them is Jindřich Halabala, who would continue the development of UP Závody and give the Czech retro armchair international renown. A few years later, Ludvík Volák would extend this tradition by developing furniture with more organic forms, in particular through his famous bentwood room dividers. Together, Jan Vaněk, Jindřich Halabala and Ludvík Volák embody the golden age of Czechoslovak vintage furniture, now especially sought after by collectors and lovers of 1950s armchairs.