Rocking chair, designed by Takeshi Nii, 1950s

Description

Rocking chair designed by Takeshi Nii in the 1950s. Creating this chair required a whole palette of different materials. The upholstery is black quilted leather. The frame is made of aluminium, while the runners are made of solid wood. The armrests are made of plastic in a grey and navy-blue shade. The chair’s mechanism allows it to be folded. This model is the sibling of the famous Ny Chair from 1958. The designer was inspired by a director’s chair he spotted before the Second World War in one of the warehouses. While repeating the chair’s functionality tests, Nii saw a similar chair in Denmark with a one-piece seat and backrest, which he decided to incorporate into his own design. The design won numerous awards and, in 1970, became part of MoMA’s permanent collection.

The chair has been preserved in its original, excellent condition. It has minor scuffs and signs of patina on the metal, which should come as no surprise given its age. The seat height is 41 cm.