Molded plywood armchair. Who did it?

caelte · Aug 20, 2009

I'm trying to find out who did this chair. I've come up with zero. This is the best shot of it I've got.

It has webbing on the seat. Plywood molded back. Blonde finish. The whole thing bolts together. I've looked pretty much everywhere and not found it. Any ideas?

robin · Aug 20, 2009

ikea?

caelte · Aug 20, 2009

Originally Posted by robin

ikea?
haha...no, who did it the first time. This is not a test. I know who it looks like might have done it but I'm not sure.

Ambulance Chaser · Aug 20, 2009

Pic isn't showing on my computer.

js4design · Aug 20, 2009

Originally Posted by caelte

I'm trying to find out who did this chair. I've come up with zero. This is the best shot of it I've got.

It has webbing on the seat. Plywood molded back. Blonde finish. The whole thing bolts together.
I've looked pretty much everywhere and not found it. Any ideas?

looks like an Eames knock off by the back, maybe its the picture but im not a fan of that thing proportionally.

gomestar · Aug 20, 2009

+1 on the back being just like an Eames.

caelte · Aug 20, 2009

Originally Posted by js4design

looks like an Eames knock off by the back, maybe its the picture but im not a fan of that thing proportionally.
It's a lot cooler looking in real life. Except for the back, it doesn't look like an Eames knock off. Some of the elements on it look like Sorenson.

caelte · Aug 21, 2009

Thanks for all the views. I'll try and find a better photo. It's pretty hard to make out what it is.

amnesiac · Aug 21, 2009

it's Eames minus the full glory of the revolutionary molded plywood construction. looks to just be the backrest and the rest is a normal low chair that's kind of like the eames design.

mcqueen · Aug 22, 2009

The chair was designed by Russell Spanner and manufactured in Canada by Ruspan Originals. The seat was usually webbed. The photo certainly does not do it any justice, far from a Eames knock off.
It stands alone as a beautifully designed chair.

caelte · Aug 23, 2009

Hey mcqueen,
thanks for the info! I think it is a beautiful chair. Also, very comfortable. Interesting, when I found it in original condition years ago, the arms were reversed.

mcqueen · Aug 23, 2009

The chair was designed sometime between 1950-1953.

Here is an interesting blurb I found:
Spanner Products distributed the line through the Simpson's and Eaton's department stores and through small, independent dealers in Toronto, and, occasionally, elsewhere in the province. Once the public became aware of Ruspan, the factory could not keep up with demand. Russell Spanner's habit of jumping up onto his furniture may have stemmed from his early experience as an amateur wrestler. A Globe and Mail article from 12 January 1954 reproduces a photograph of Russell standing on an Originals coffee table at the Canadian Furniture Mart. The article describes part of Russell's design process as follows: 'He will take the design to his uncle, Oliver Spanner, and the two will retire to the woodworking shops and manufacture a prototype. Then, for several hours the chair will be kicked, dropped and thrown. Russell Spanner will stand, jump and bounce on it. If it survives, it will be deemed worthy of further consideration.'

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Molded plywood armchair. Who did it?

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