Bar stools

This pair of bar stools dates to the 1960s and embodies the Scandinavian take on mid-century modern tubular-steel seating. Each stool stands 85.5 cm tall with a seat height of 69 cm, its frame formed from continuous lengths of chromed steel tubing that loop elegantly to serve as both support and integrated footrest. The gently curving base echoes the minimalist geometry of Bauhaus-influenced prototypes, while the exposed joints and polished finish speak to a focus on honest structure and functional clarity.

The circular seats are crafted from tightly woven cane, their warm honey tones providing a tactile counterpoint to the cool, reflective metal. A raised rim of black-lacquered wood encircles each seat, its glossy surface framing the natural fibers and reinforcing the seats’ durability. At the rear, a half-loop of steel tubing rises as a subtle backrest and convenient handhold, its slender silhouette maintaining the stools’ visually light appearance without sacrificing practical support.

Over six decades, the chrome has acquired a soft patina of fine surface scratches and muted highlights, consistent with careful vintage use. The cane remains intact and resilient, showing only minimal give where weight has most often been applied. The black lacquer edging bears a few faint scuffs at the contact points, but retains its deep, uniform gloss. Overall, the stools are in good vintage condition, their wear marking the passage of time without detracting from their formal elegance.

Although the individual designer remains uncredited, these stools reflect a period when small Scandinavian workshops adapted international modernist ideas to local materials and production methods. The combination of tubular steel, natural cane and lacquered wood aligns with the era’s commitment to utility, simplicity and honest material contrasts. As bar-height seating, they offer both sturdy function and a sculptural profile, making them a rare surviving example of 1960s Scandinavian furniture that bridges industrial form and handcrafted detail.