GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Danish designer Hans J. Wegner sought to design, "just one good chair in my life," constantly endeavoring to improve his designs. In 1961, he designed the Bull chair, and in 1964 this example, now in the DMA's collection, was executed from a commission by Dallas-based businessman Stephen S. Kahn for use in his home office. To distinguish this chair from another design of Wegner's (the Cow Horn chair), it was called the Bull Horn chair. The former chair has smaller arms with more curve than the arms of this chair, which has large, straight arms. The wedge used for the top rail is the same on both chairs; it connects the materials on both sides and serves to strengthen the structure of the chair as well as enhance its beauty. As is typical of Wegner's designs, this chair was made by cabinet maker Johanes Hansen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Bull chair embodies characteristics of many of Wegner's designs: gracefully tapered, solid wood combining beauty, comfort, and affordability.
Heather Bowling, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Noritsugu Orda, Danish Chairs, (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1996).
- Christian Holmsted Olesen, Wegner: Just One Good Chair, (Hatje Cantz, 2014).
NOTES
- fun fact source: Collections Records Objects File (2001.294)
- updated provenance and geo x refs
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1964: Stephen S. Kahn, commissioned from the designer, manufactured by Johannes Hansen Mobelsnedkeri, Copenhagen [1]
From 2001: Dallas Museum of Art, bequest of Stephen S. Kahn
[1] See Maher & Company invoice and personal letter from Johannes Hansen cabinetmaker in Collections Records Object File
AUDIO ASSETS
267026258: UMO. Listen to a gallery talk in Form/Unformed given by Heather Bowling, Digitial Content Coordinator for Decorative Arts.
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Although this chair sits in a museum gallery today, its original owner Stephen S. Kahn hardly kept it on a pedestal. In fact, there is some damage to the rear of the desk chair caused by it hitting the edge of Mr. Kahn's desk through the years, and the wear on the front edge of the upholstery was probably caused by his legs rubbing against the seat.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2001.294
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Danish designer Hans J. Wegner sought to design, "just one good chair in my life," constantly endeavoring to improve his designs. In 1961, he designed the Bull chair, and in 1964 this example, now in the DMA's collection, was executed from a commission by Dallas-based businessman Stephen S. Kahn for use in his home office. To distinguish this chair from another design of Wegner's (the Cow Horn chair), it was called the Bull Horn chair. The former chair has smaller arms with more curve than the arms of this chair, which has large, straight arms. The wedge used for the top rail is the same on both chairs; it connects the materials on both sides and serves to strengthen the structure of the chair as well as enhance its beauty. As is typical of Wegner's designs, this chair was made by cabinet maker Johanes Hansen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Bull chair embodies characteristics of many of Wegner's designs: gracefully tapered, solid wood combining beauty, comfort, and affordability.
Heather Bowling, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Noritsugu Orda, Danish Chairs, (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1996).
- Christian Holmsted Olesen, Wegner: Just One Good Chair, (Hatje Cantz, 2014).
Fun Facts
- Although this chair sits in a museum gallery today, its original owner Stephen S. Kahn hardly kept it on a pedestal. In fact, there is some damage to the rear of the desk chair caused by it hitting the edge of Mr. Kahn's desk through the years, and the wear on the front edge of the upholstery was probably caused by his legs rubbing against the seat.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- fun fact source: Collections Records Objects File (2001.294)
- updated provenance and geo x refs
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1964: Stephen S. Kahn, commissioned from the designer, manufactured by Johannes Hansen Mobelsnedkeri, Copenhagen [1]
From 2001: Dallas Museum of Art, bequest of Stephen S. Kahn
[1] See Maher & Company invoice and personal letter from Johannes Hansen cabinetmaker in Collections Records Object File
AUDIO ASSETS
267026258: UMO. Listen to a gallery talk in Form/Unformed given by Heather Bowling, Digitial Content Coordinator for Decorative Arts.
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2001.294
source file
object_notes_2_d-0170.xml.nores