Pair of "Clam" Chairs - 1944

Wood and sheepskin upholstery
90 x 70 x 85 cm
Manufactured by Madsen & Schubell, Denmark

Provenance:
Galerie Pierre Mahaux, Brussels

The Clam Chair has a rather perplexing history and has been attributed to several designers before, the latest being the Danish architect Philip Artcander (1916 - 1994). However, recent research revealed that the "Clam" is the model that in fact started the story of Madsen & Schubell. Arnold Madsen designed the chair in 1944 in his small basement workshop in Gothersgade, Copenhagen. This chair has a characteristic organic shape with soft curves, perched on club-shaped beech legs. The name comes from the shape of the seat and back that together form the silhouette of an open clam. The round armrests complement the overall round feel of the chair. The seat is slightly raised towards the front, while the back is tilted back to provide great sitting comfort. The seat and back are covered in cappuccino-colored sheepskin, adding to the soft and cozy feel of this "Clam". Interestingly, Hans Schubell invented the special connecting piece of this chair, formed from only one piece of wood. The rest of the seat and backrest were glued to this single piece. In 1944, the chair was already exhibited in conjunction with the presentation of the newly opened furniture store NY FORM A/S in Copenhagen, which sold the leading design of the day. In 1953, Madsen & Schubell sold the license for the chair to the Norwegian company Vik and Blindheim.