Beech and Plywood Folding Chairs by Egon Eiermann for Wilde & Spieth, 1952

These folding chairs, model SE18, were designed in 1952 by German architect Egon Eiermann for Wilde & Spieth. Its frame is made from beech wood whereas the seat and backrest are made from molded plywood with beech veneer. The chair is now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in their permanent modern art collection and it was shown at the World Exhibition Brussels in 1958. Egon Eierman was one of Germany’s most significant architects in the second half of the 20th century. Alongside designing significant modernist buildings, he also designed various items of furniture, in particular seating, that are now true design classics.

These chairs are 70 years old and still in very good condition because they were fully restored by a professional who dedicated a lot of time and energy to fix the veneer. We used all different forms and shapes of veneer to give them the old Levi’s 501 look where you can clearly see the multiple different restorations if you look from close by. From a small distance it’s hard to see. As a dealer I buy a lot of pieces and very often you can see former reparations in the veneer. When this is nicely done, I always get a bit delighted by this. It contributes to the value because labor and craftsmanship is something luxurious nowadays because it means that someone has put energy into something. It also contributes to the environmental and circular mindset that people have nowadays. Why not making old chairs beautiful again instead of buying new ones?The result is a splendid set of folding chairs by Egon Eiermann that could easily last another 70 years!