The first French Club Chairs appeared at the beginning of the 20^th century. They were characterized by their straight lines, from the Art Deco Style opposed to the Art Nouveau Style with its clean and flexible lines.  After the Second World War, dozens of shapes appeared.

Some have stood the test of time, such as the “Moustache”, with a lip like curves across the back and the “Gendarme’s Hat“, with an elegant arch like curve, both appeared in the 40’s. My favourite one is the Round Shape, which was the most famous and had become the Club Chair’s most emblematic incarnation.

Stunning Vintage French Club Chair “Moustache”

Contrary to popular belief, this leather Club Chair is French origin.  At first, the Club Chair was called “The Comfortable Chair” to distinguish it from the “Fauteuil de style” which had straighter lines and was less enveloping. While the name “Club Chair” refers to the Gentlemen’s Clubs in the 19th Century in England where gentlemen could escape from their home (and wives) and enjoy cigars, brandy, and conversation about business, politics and sports. The names of the fashionable London streets full of such Clubs are still used to name classics English Club Chairs such as St. James or Piccadilly.

Years later, The Club Sofa appeared, offering more seating space, but also an opportunity to have a comfortable bed. You can find the same shapes as the Club Chairs, like the “Moustache”.

This vintage chair has become the most coveted chair in the world and had inspired many designers, from Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand to Philippe Starck in the 80’s 90’s with the creation of the Bubble Club. It was made of polyethylene moulding, taking the Club Chair from the bourgeois home to the terraces and gardens. So over time, nothing changes fundamentally, everything deforms and is transformed, and the club doesn’t stop instilling new ideas, by these contemporary forms since its origin. Its longevity, modernism and refinement are still very much admired today.

Stunning Bubble Club by Philippe Starck 

How the French Club Chair is made?

Only noble materials are used in the design of the Club Chair. The leather used is the sheepskin called the “Basane” in French, a very high quality of lambskin leather.

Design, carpentry, fellmongery, upholstery and coloring are the main crafts involved in the manufacture of a Club Chair. Each chair is a product of all this combined expertise. The appearance of the Club Chair was possible thanks to the application of a new padding technique, using double conical springs not only in the seat cushion but also in the backrest and the armrests. Coir filling supplemented the suppleness of these springs.

The covering is made of vegetable-tanned sheep’s leather. Some marks and defects in the skin are visible through the dye, making each chair unique. Furthermore, the incredibly fine grain gives the armchair a unique patina over time. French leather was renowned for its quality from the 19th Century.

Between six and eight skins of approximately 0.8 square meters (8.6 sq ft) each are required to cover an armchair. They are applied wet, stretched as tightly as possible, and contract as they dry. They will last around 40 years and after that time, you will have a fantastic patina for more decades to come!

Fantastics French Club Chairs “Chapeau de Gendarme” 

Nowadays:

The techniques have changed, covering have evolved as Industrial Techniques have developed, and have included mercerised cotton, velvet, calfskin and, most recently bycast leather. However, sheep’s leather is still considered the authentic material for the chairs. The industries progress led to the replacement of the padding method with no-sag springs or elastic webbing, together with synthetic foam.

Why choosing a Vintage Club Chair?

There are so many reasons!

• It gives so much character, a great sense of charm, luxury and elegance to any interior.
• It is timeless, a classic that would be appreciated for all generations.
• It is very sturdy.
• It gives an instant sense of history to any room it inhabits.
• It is trendy, always was, is and always be.
• It has the ability to fit in with so many different styles from rustic to contemporary, industrial, retro, vintage, shabby chic and so on.
• It has an incredible soft leather.

My favorite! The French Club Chair “Round Shape”

How to take care of your vintage French club chair?

It is important to know that heat and sun are factors that may lead your Club Chair to dry. So you need to nourish the leather from time to time with some linseed oil with white vinegar to bring back its suppleness and its shine. If you need to make some refurbishment, always ask for a professional. The work has to be done by hand, the way they were originally built with artistry and passion.

You can consider to acquire a Club Chair, you will acquire not only a gem, you will get a unique piece of art and history that will become one day an Antique, in fact a real investment!

Where can you find some?

To antique dealers, vintage shops and of course at La boutique Vintage!

We will always offer you a wide range of Authentic Club Chairs with striking lines, perfect proportions, and a stunning patina on original full panels of leather.

And you what is your favorite one?

For the house fitting as well as for the society issues, the North countries had always been beforehand. The proof? Since the 20’s, the Finn architect and designer Alvar Aalto puts into practice the concept of “beauty for all” and tries to offer to the largest number of people some furniture with a design close to nature, appeasing and comfortable. Alvar Aalto is one of the pioneers of the waisted plywood, which offers sinuous forms, used on the famous “Paimio” chair(c. 1929), produced by Artek. Here is an indication to make the difference between the Finn design and its cousin the Danish design: all Danish furniture has more geometrical lines than the Finn one. The wood is a constant of the Scandinavian design, quite as the search for an uncluttered drawing, which makes it timeless and easy to fit in any interior. From where its success!

The most looking for Scandinavian production is the one from 1950 till 1970, is nevertheless far from being uniform. The Danish Arne Jacobsen became a celebrity in 1952 for its famous Ant chair; it is very appreciated for its qualities of resistance and its joyful shape. Since 1955 are following a mass of declensions of it like the 7 series with a changing back. The talented Jacobsen has designed another masterpiece: the Egg Chair,

a classic still in production, you can also find some vintage models. In 2008, the producer Fritz Hansen had the idea to launch a special series for the 40^th anniversary of the Egg Chair. A limited edition of nine hundred ninety nine items made with chocolate leather and bronze pedestal, and an other anniversary series in two different colours only: black and red. A collector’s future!

Little country by the size but big by the number of designers, the Denmark had also celebrate Hans Wegner, creator of the Round Chair (1949) and heir of the national tradition of cabinetwork, without forgetting two famous names: Verner Panton and Poul Henningsen. We owe Mister Panton a completely different orientation, breaking with the work of wood tradition. Verner Panton has created a sparkling and coloured world under LSD where the plastic is king and where triumphs the spirit of the pop years. In particular, the Panton Chair (1967) and the Cone Chair (1957) in a shape of a yummy ice cream which rest on a metal pedestal. For its part, Poul Henningsen, is the king of lights with a series of revolutionary lamps. His trick? “To pile a cup, a bowl and a plate”. The light is then spread smoothly in several directions.  PH5 is the most famous model still in production nowadays by Louis Poulsen. Finally, impossible to not fall for a Danish sideboard (and sometimes Swedish), in oak, teak or rosewood, those sideboards, with pure lines, are still in trend. Some are still in production, why not trying to find a vintage one at La Boutique Vintage, visit us now!

And I hope I will be able to share with you my passion through this blog.

What is better than sitting in a comfy French Club Chair with signs of wear and tears, which, gives it an original vintage and unique charm?

Having a huge vintage butcher’s block which stand in the middle of your kitchen surrounding by some kitchenalia items, so great!

I could give you lots of examples like that.

You need storage? What about a vintage Danish sideboard or an antiques dentist cabinet or an haberdashery cabinet or…

You want to give your interior a vintage feeling, you can choose decorative items such as… sorry, the list is going to be too long.

So, vintage furniture is really great. But what exactly means “Vintage”?

We can read and hear all the time people talking about “Vintage”.

Did you ever asked yourself what the word “Vintage” does mean?

Is it only for clothes? Is it also for furniture?

Let me tell you about Vintage:

Did you know that the word “Vintage” came from the old French name “vendange”, after semantic alteration, graphic and pronunciation, to indicate a remarkable wine by its quality, in particular in reference to an age or to a vintage wine. It also refers to some spirituous like Porto or Whiskey.

First used to indicate old clothes from prestigious creators (such as Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes…), the “vintage” term had spread to every second-hand pieces dating at the latest from the 80’s, and referring to a specific time of fashion history from the twentieth century. The vintage trend is now so common that every retro and old piece is called vintage.

For the purists, Vintage is first the reflection of authenticity, whether it is by the brand, by the sewing techniques or by the fabrics used.

The” People” history of Vintage:

It’s in 2001 that the phenomenon had rocketed with the apparition of Julia Roberts at the Oscar Ceremony, wearing a Valentino dress from 1992. This event was the start of a pure madness in the world of luxury fashion. Shortly, Demi Moore, Winona Ryder, Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker or Jennifer Lopez started wearing vintage.

In reaction against the consumer society, the Vintage stands out as a mean to personalize its look by wearing unique pieces.

Vintage is a real phenomenon.

Look at this advert from the Brazilian agency Moma… Advert from nowadays with a look from the past!

But Vintage is not only clothes: Vintage term is also used in furniture.

Basically, vintage furniture is furniture between 30 to 100 years old. Furniture that is older than 100 years are termed antiques. Anything more recent would qualify as simply used furniture.

We can say that all those vintage furniture crossed the time and if they are still in good condition, it means that they are really worth it!

If you want a style that is yours completely, be sure not to find the same cupboard in your neighbour’s house and have some lovely pieces that have a soul with some signs of the past,

If you appreciate past design and have an interest in history,

Vintage style is for you!

Visit La Boutique Vintage for lots of inspiring Vintage Home decor Ideas.

Robert Muller and Gaston Cavaillon created the company in 1947. At that time the company is one of the rare French company to be able to work with steel and offer affordable prices to its own customers.

Several different types of chairs were manufactured.

•  “The MULLCA 300”

Jacques Hitier created the Mullca 300 in 1949, it was often said that it was Marcel Gascoin who designed it but not this one, even if he’s also a talented designer. But like we say: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s”.

This is a kid’s chair (until 5 years old), which has a unique design that never had any

change. The tube from the back of the chair extends to serve as an armrest. This chair was produced in 2 models: The Mullca 300 with its curved feet on the back and the Mobilor with its round feet on the back (a chair also designed by Jacques Hitier).

Dimensions: Height: 42cm, Width: 34cm, Depth: 33cm

They are now lovely vintage chairs and look so stunning in any child room with a vintage school desk.

• “The MULLCA 511”

In 1950 the Mullca 511 was created before the famous Mullca 510.

At the beginning, the Mullca 511 was the very first one to be created and it wasn’t so comfortable, so its designer, Gaston Cavaillon, tried to get it better and better a pencil in his hand all the time trying to make the best chair ever.

• “The MULLCA 510”

In 1964, after many changes Gaston Cavaillon finally found the perfect chair: The “Mullca 510″. It is immediately a success.

Millions of French people perfectly know the “Mullca 510” chair because they did spend lots of hours sitting on it during their all studies!

In the 60’s, the schools were all equipped with the same furniture. They did choose the Mullca 510 because it was a really strong chair, also very light, and because of the slope of the back feet, it would never touch the walls, so never damage them. You could also pile them (great for space in schools). And the seat was a little curved, so the pupils had to seat straight on them! What a brilliant chair for schools!

The concept have changed with the years go by, and the tubes got some colours, the size of the chair evolved too, you could find it in 6 different sizes with different colours for each size according to the age of the kids.

But unfortunately from the 80’s the demand decrease and the company has filed a bankruptcy in 1996.

In 1985, Sir Terence Conran introduces it (black colour model) as a dining chair in the Habitat Catalogue. Later the vintage trend will introduce it in every home.

Let’s hunt them now at La Boutique Vintage!

I have what you need!

It’s not only a great vintage Chesterfield, but also a unique one with its handmade Union Jack decoration.

It has been fully refurbished by my favorite craftsman. The Union Jack flag has been painted by hand, and a lovely patina has been added to give it a vintage charm and more character.

It is a 3 seater leather sofa. Dimensions: 215 cm x 95 cm x 78 cm (height).

Delivery to any post code in London for £30, other location, please ask for a quote.

Have a look at those pictures and don’t hesitate to tell me if you like it!

It has been sold, but if you would like one like that (even if they are all unique…) don’t hesitate to contact me and visit right now La Boutique Vintage to see our stock!

They were used in the sitting room of a barber shop in south of France. They would be perfect in any traditionnal or comtemporary home and add a touch of vintage feel.

Have a look at our fantastic range of retro chair at La Boutique Vintage.

Brand: Figaro

Those are fantastic vintage pieces!

They have a porcelain base with chrome around it. And the seat is in faux-leather. It is a swivel seat.

Width: 63 cm.

Height: 92/102 cm.

Depth: 63 cm.

There are 2 chairs, one with head rest and one without.

They are both absolutely gorgeous!

And you know what?

The Barber Chairs are now in a great Hair Design Shop in London Bridge. You can go to see them at Malishi, and say hello to our new friend Mariko, Konnichiwa!

Find some more vintage barber chairs at La Boutique Vintage.

Dimensions: About H 70 cm x D 95 cm x W 95 cm

I just love so much those Chesterfield, they are so British!

Thank you so much for looking!

Don’t hesitate to go to La Boutique Vintage and discover all Vintage Treasures we have in stock today!