Set of 6 No. 124 Chairs, designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz, Radomsko, Poland, 1950s

Description

A set of six No. 124 bent beechwood chairs designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz. The chairs were manufactured at the Radomsko Wood Industry Works in the 1950s.
In 1959, this design won first prize in a competition organized by PAGED (Polish Timber Export Agency). The colloquial name “little hearts” derives from the heart-shaped backrests made of bent plywood. It is worth noting the consistency of the manufacturing technique used for No. 124. Every wooden element of the chair was bent; the wooden hoop supporting the seat was likewise made from a single bent piece. The legs underwent the same process, creating a cohesive overall aesthetic in the “little hearts” design.
The seats and backrests are upholstered in soft white bouclé fabric, contrasting with the dark colour and smooth finish of the wood. Although the chairs come from a single set, the manufacturing technique means they vary slightly in the spacing between the legs and in the curvature of the bends.