- T H E P R E S I D E N T C H A I R -
An iconic symbol of Danish design
The Round Chair (Danish: 'Den Runde Stol', also known as 'The Chair' in America, 'The Classic Chair' in Britain, and by the model number PP501 at designcollectors.com) is an armchair designed by Hans Wegner in 1949. The chair was a collaboration of Wegner and the now-defunct furniture maker Johannes Hansen. It is still in production today by the Danish furniture manufacturer PP Møbler.
The chair features back and armrests made from one continuous semicircle. The finger joints orient the wood grain as the back rail wraps around the body to maximize material strength.
American press coverage
In 1949, Wegner planned to present 2 chairs to display at the annual exhibition of the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild. His employer, Johannes Hansen, felt that there were too many plywood chairs on display and instructed Wegner to create a more traditional chair. Wegner created the Round Chair in only 48 hours.
While the tripartite chair had captured the attention of the Danish press, American journalists attended the event for the first time and were drawn to the traditional design of the Round Chair instead of the innovative design of the plywood chair. The American journalists shared the news of this chair back home and it was the subject of much attention internationally. The year the chair was created, the American magazine Interiors featured the chair and christened it "most beautiful chair in the world". This was the first coverage of Danish Modern in the American press.
The President Chair
The Round Chair gained international recognition when it was used in the televised debate between presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Kennedy, who later became the 35th President of the United States, sat in the Round Chair during the debate. This association led to the chair being informally referred to as the "President Chair" or the "Kennedy Chair."
Since then, the Round Chair has become an iconic symbol of Danish design and is highly sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts. PP Møbler continues to produce the Round Chair using traditional craftsmanship techniques, ensuring the high-quality and meticulous attention to detail that characterize their furniture.
It's worth noting that the Round Chair is not the only design associated with President Kennedy. There are other chair designs, such as the famous Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, which are also connected to his name. Each of these designs carries its own historical and cultural significance.
Left: Barack Obama and Wen Jiabao sitting on the Round Chair at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change
Conference - Right: John Kerry and Lars Løkke Rasmussen sitting in the chairs at the Danish Prime Minister’s Office in Copenhagen
Discover PP Møbler
pp501 Round Chair - Oak light brown, Clear bio oil, Seat Natural cane PP Møbler
pp201 Arm Chair - Oak clear bio oil, Seat Natural papercord PP Møbler
pp58 Arm Chair - Oak clear bio oil, Seat Mocca 97 PP Møbler
pp58/3 Arm Chair - Oak clear bio oil, Seat Mocca 97 PP Møbler
Footnotes:
Text and images: PP Mobler - Wikipedia
