Siesta Lounge Chair & Ottoman in Dark Brown Leather & Plywood by Ingmar Relling for Westnofa, 1970s

Model · Siesta
Designer · Ingmar Relling
Manufacturer · Westnofa
Origin · Norway
Period · 1970s
Style · Scandinavian Modern / Mid-Century Modern
Materials · Bent plywood, leather
Colour · Brown, dark brown

Object

Siesta almost disappears around the person sitting in it. Two sweeping pieces of bent plywood form the structure, while leather is suspended between them, allowing the body to settle naturally into the chair. The matching ottoman continues the same movement forward, turning a remarkably light structure into a place for complete rest.

Relling reduced the lounge chair until almost nothing remained but movement, tension and comfort. The frame bends, the leather gives way, and the entire composition seems to float just above the floor. In dark brown leather and warm wood, this example has an especially quiet character. The materials have aged together, carrying decades of use without losing the clarity of the original idea.

Designer

Ingmar Relling (1920–2002) grew up in Sykkylven, a small Norwegian town surrounded by mountains and furniture workshops. After working at Rastad & Relling, he established his own studio there in 1950 and began developing a language shaped by economy, movement and the possibilities of industrial production.

His breakthrough came with the Siesta Chair in 1965. Rather than building comfort through mass and upholstery, Relling suspended the body inside a flexible bentwood structure. The idea was simple enough to travel around the world, yet distinctive enough to become one of the defining objects of Norwegian modernism.

Manufacturer

Westnofa was created to carry Norwegian furniture beyond Norway. Its name, derived from West Norway Factories, represented a group of manufacturers working together to bring the country's emerging design culture to an international audience.

Few pieces embodied that ambition as completely as Ingmar Relling's Siesta. Produced in large numbers and exported around the world, the chair transformed an experiment in Norwegian bentwood into an international design icon.

Condition

The dark brown leather seating and bentwood structures remain fully original and are beautifully preserved in excellent vintage condition. The leather has developed a warm natural patina, while the wood retains its original finish and character. As with any authentic vintage pieces, subtle traces of age and previous use may be present, adding to their history and individual character.

Dimensions

Width · 63.5 cm / 25.0 in
Depth · 43.2 cm / 17.0 in
Height · 78.7 cm / 31.0 in
Seat height · 43.2 cm / 17.0 in

Included

The lounge chair and ottoman are accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The lounge chair and ottoman can be ready to ship within 10-15 workdays.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the piece, its condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

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