Swedish designer Arne Norell allegedly based his 1961 design for the Sirocco chair on the Roorkee safari chair designed in the 1890's for British military officers during their military campaigns. This is one of many ties of modernist furniture to "campaign" furniture. While the Roorkee chair takes on a look that resembles a deconstructable king's throne, the Sirocco chair looks more like something Breuer or Mies Van Der Rohe would have designed had they been commissioned for such a piece. Like the Roorkee, Norell's design uses a system of turned legs and tapered dowels that slip fit together and are held in tension by the leather straps and the weight of the seated user. It disassembles in about 5 minutes and can be reassembled just as easily. Its unnerving to pick one up as it feels wobbly, however it feels very sturdy when seated. This design also relies on the use of quality materials. A soft wood would flex and the holes and dowels would wear out. The rosewood and saddle leather used in this piece are well up to the task and will easily last another 50 years.
This piece combines 2 of my favorite furniture materials: rosewood and heavy saddle leather. Both are richly patinated and have a warm, inviting look. There really aren't too many styles this chair won't go with: modern, rustic, industrial loft, mountain. It would be a great show piece for any of these and is comfortable to boot. Here is what apartmenttherapy has to say about safari chairs.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/trend-spotting-safari-chairs-174074
Dimensions: 26"W x 26"D x 28"H at back, 13" seat height
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