Ingmar Relling Siesta Lounge Chair — Westnofa, Norway

The Siesta Chair is one of Scandinavian design's defining objects. Designed by Ingmar Relling (1920–2002) in collaboration with his son Knut and first produced by Westnofa of Norway in 1965, it won first prize that same year at the Norwegian Industry Council for Furniture competition and went on to sell more than 800,000 units worldwide. President Jimmy Carter purchased sixteen for the White House. The chair holds permanent collection status at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Cooper-Hewitt in New York, and the National Museum in Oslo, among others. Westnofa ceased production in the early 1980s; the design is now produced by L.K. Hjelle and retails new at over $2,500 — original Westnofa examples are the collectible production.

This example is the low-back armless configuration on a bent laminated beech frame finished in a warm honey tone. The canvas sling body laces to the frame through grommeted eyelets on both sides. The full-grain dark chocolate brown leather cushion set — tufted across seat and back — is original to the chair and rests in the sling in the design's characteristic suspended posture.

CONDITION Good. The bent beech frame retains its warm finish with light scuffing at the edges and base runners consistent with age and use. The full-grain leather cushions show softening and use creasing throughout but no tears, splits, or significant loss. The canvas sling has a visible stain on the seat panel beneath the cushion; a small number of hardware components are non-original replacements. All lacing and grommets are structurally intact and functional.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 31" H × 24¼" W × 31" D
• Seat: 17" H × 24¼" W × 18" D
• Frame material: Bent laminated beech
• Finish: Warm honey/rosewood stain
• Sling material: Canvas, dark charcoal brown
• Cushion material: Full-grain leather, dark chocolate brown, tufted
• Configuration: Low-back, armless lounge
• Designer: Ingmar Relling (1920–2002)
• Manufacturer: Westnofa Furniture, Norway
• Design year: 1965
• Note: Some hardware non-original replacements