H C Andersen Wingchair by Henrik Ingemann Nielsen & Alexander H Damsbo

From time to time my poor Chairblog doesn’t get any attention from me. I leave it floating on its own. Poor blog. And then a new Januari is on the horizon and again I think: “Shall I (re)start with daily posts as I did in 2023 and 2024?”

Then I find the following message from September 6, 2012 in a newly discovered pile of messages:

Hello Guido J. van den Elshout !

I am a furniture maker from Copenhagen. I love chairs !. Thank you for your fantastic Chair Blog (and archives !).

Henrik Ingemann Nielsen, architect

It’s a bit stoopid. Only this month I discovered a whole archive of forms that people dutifully submitted and which I have never seen or looked at before.

Among it a message from Henrik Ingemann Nielsen, an architect from Copenhagen that today I see for the first time. The website he mentions (modelhotel.dk) doesn’t operate anymore, but in Googling his name I found a link to Bukowski which features this chair that he apparently designed together with Alexander H Damsbo.

He has a presence on linked in, but never posted there.

There are more compliments in those posts. There are more than 500. There is a pile of new inspiration for posts in the near future.

I feature Henrik’s message here because I like a pat on my back from time to time. I have some followers who get an e-mail when I post here and I have some followers on my weekly newsletter that is automatically sent weekly when I post here. A goal I didn’t reach in al those years of blogging is people who react here in the blog to posts. Only an occasional reaction.

An interesting feature of the H C Andersen Wingchair is it can fold into a sort of side table:

Aviva de Luxe by Baan

Baan is a manufacturer of very good quality – made in Holland – chairs and couches, benches and sofa’s in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands. Recently I disposed of a wingchair they made more than 40 years ago to my measures (I used to be 6 foot 4). I believe I don’t even have a proper photo of the chair. I’ve never featured it here which is a shame. We had it re upholstered two times.

These days I’m considering to buy a new sofa. Maybe Baan’s Aviva is an idea.

WM 1 Armchair by Werner Max Moser

It seems this chair is still or again in production. By Misura Emma in Italy. Moreover, since 2002 Swiss EMBRU produces it as well. I love it!

G23 Hoop Armchair by Piero Palange and Werther Toffoloni

At 1stdibs they are around € 4,000.

Pamono has one in Germany for €1,331.

At Whoppa €1,600.

At VNTG price on request.

Dueacca Armchair by Franco Poli


Dueacca Armchair by Franco Poli
In any case also found at 1stDibs

Who Is Franco Poli?
Born: Padua, Italy, in 1950.
Studied art and architecture in Venice, where he met luminaries like Isamu Noguchi and Buckminster Fuller
bbbitalia.it
berninigallery.it
.

Early Career:
His first industrial design—an innovative piezoelectric lighter—was launched in 1974 and remained in production for decades
berninigallery.it
Wikipedia
.

Professional Roles:

Served as Artistic Director at Bernini S.p.A. from 1979 to 2009
bbbitalia.it
berninigallery.it
.

In 1986, he contributed to Poltrona Frau’s aerospace division and co-designed the “Forum” office seating collection
bbbitalia.it
vallihandles.com
.

Academia & Influence:

Founded his own design studio in Venice.

Visiting professor at the International University for Art (Florence), CNR, and Politecnico di Milano
matteograssi.com
midj.com
.

Taught design at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts from 1989 to 1996
Wikipedia
Archiproducts
.

Advocacy & Community Building:
Played a key role in forming the A.D. Veneto and the Italian Chamber of Design, and helped establish a transnational Mediterranean design school in Reggio Calabria under the umbrella of CNAD
Wikipedia
vallihandles.com
.

Recognition & Awards:

His “Flying” chair joined the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum
FATTO AD ARTE
midj.com
.

Works are part of prestigious institutions including the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain (Paris), Magma Museum (Roccamonfina), Farnesina Design collection (Rome), and Triennale Museum (Milan)
berninigallery.it
Archiproducts
.

Awards include:

Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Awards (2005, 2007, 2011, 2014)
Wikipedia
windowo.co.uk
.

DesignX Australian Design Award (2007)
berninigallery.it
Wikipedia
.

Honorable Mention at the XXI Compasso d’Oro for the LOOM chair by Matteograssi (2008)
Wikipedia
berninigallery.it
.

Notable Projects:
Furnished key reception areas at the Venice Biennials of Art and Architecture between 2007 and 2010, including spaces like Le Bombarde and Caffè Italia
berninigallery.it
bbbitalia.it
.

Summary
Franco Poli is a pivotal figure in modern Italian design—melding timeless aesthetics with practicality. From his early work in industrial objects to his leadership roles in design institutions and academia, he’s left a lasting mark. His designs have earned global recognition, both through prestigious awards and inclusion in renowned museum collections.