1960’S Gimson And Slater Norwegian Teak Reclining Chair

1960’s Gimson and Slater Norwegian teak reclining chair

This stylish beautifully made chair is often wrongly described as being designed by Gio Ponti. The original design was made circa 1960 by an unknown Norwegian designer for Arnestad Bruk and was also made in teak. It was then made under licence in light beech by the renowned Italian maker Cassina and chosen by Gio Ponti for use in the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento which he designed and furnished. If you look online some sellers of this light wood version initially say Gio Ponti, but then qualify the description later by saying ” chosen by “. Others have then jumped on the Ponti name and described the teak version as designed by him when it’s actually Norwegian and in a totally different style to anything he ever designed.

The quality maker Gimson and Slater had previously made their oak Rock n Rest chairs under licence from Norway very successfully. A model which we’ve had a few times recently. At the time they described them as being by a Norwegian designer who is now understood to be Sigurd Resell who was then working for the successful Rastad and Relling design company in Oslo . We have a rare 1965 Gimson and Slater catalogue which shows the original Rock N Rest chairs as well as this so called ” Gio Ponti ” chair which they were producing also as Rock n Rest as it has the same Norwegian patented metal mechanism.

The catalogue says ” The Rock n Rest range of chairs have an ingenious mechanism allowing them to be rocked or fixed in any one of 8 positions ”. This is the high backed version and it’s sculpted back and the mechanism makes it an extremely comfortable chair.

Width 68cms , height of back 96cms, seat height 37cms, depth varies

Condition
The teak frame cleaned and oiled. Re-upholstered by our in-house upholsterer in a slate grey fabric. No obvious marks or damage. The original Norwegian metal mechanism in full working order. As with all vintage pieces you must expect to see some minor signs of wear if you look very closely.