Ralf Lindberg dining chairs

An uncommon set of nine Tati dining chairs designed by Swedish architect and furniture designer Ralf Lindberg in 1988. The present examples were produced by Gärsnäs Möbler in Sweden in 1995 and retain a high-gloss red lacquered finish. A complete group of nine is unusual, particularly in this strong original colour.

The chair is constructed in lacquered beech with a thin, slightly curved seat panel and a broad backrest that wraps gently around the sitter. Straight front legs contrast with inclined rear legs that continue upward as the back supports. The backrest is fitted between these uprights, creating an open and structurally legible transition between the seat and back. The shallow curves of the seat and back soften the otherwise angular geometry.

Its construction is economical and visually direct, with relatively few components and no applied ornament. Rounded edges and a reflective lacquer finish give the red surfaces greater depth, while the exposed junctions between the legs, seat rails and back supports remain part of the design. The arrangement produces a lightweight visual profile while maintaining the proportions of a conventional dining chair.

A removable black leather seat pad is included for each of the nine chairs. The pads introduce a contrasting black surface and provide additional cushioning without permanently altering the original red seats. The chairs can therefore be used either with the lacquered wooden seats exposed or with the leather pads fitted.

Ralf Lindberg, born in Sweden in 1952, has worked across furniture design and architecture and was one of the founders of the architectural practice D2. He developed a long collaboration with Gärsnäs, and examples of his work are represented in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg. The Tati chair was introduced in 1988 and remains part of the Gärsnäs collection. Its name is generally understood as a reference to French filmmaker Jacques Tati and the distinctive angular physicality associated with his screen characters.

Gärsnäs has manufactured furniture in the village of Gärsnäs in Österlen, southern Sweden, since 1893. The company is associated with technically resolved wooden furniture and long-running collaborations with Swedish architects and designers. The Tati chair reflects the more expressive direction of late-1980s Scandinavian design, combining traditional timber construction with bold colour, graphic geometry and a high-gloss surface rather than the pale natural woods commonly associated with earlier Scandinavian modernism.

Each chair measures 48.5 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 80 cm high, corresponding to approximately 19.1 inches wide, 17.7 inches deep and 31.5 inches high. The seat height is 45 cm, or approximately 17.7 inches.

The set is in good vintage condition with visible signs of use. The red lacquer has scratches, scuffs, small chips and areas of colour loss, particularly along edges, corners, legs and other exposed contact points. These variations are consistent with the chairs’ age and use.