Vintage Danish Chrome & Leather Superstar Lounge Chairs, Ottomans & Table Set, Set of 5

Danish vintage 'Superstar' chrome and leather Sigurd Ressell Falcon style lounge chair set in brown leather and Chrome.

An incredibly rare complete and original ‘Superstar’ lounge set by Mid Century Danish furniture producer Trygg Mobler that was only produced in limited numbers between 1973-76. This set is literally the best of the best as regards Falcon style chairs. Featuring the original chrome frames these are the high back version of the chair design in cognac leather that also comes equipped with arm rests, matching foot stools and the original riven slate topped coffee table.

Originally designed in 1970 by Sigurd Ressell for Vatne Mobler production started in 1971 with the chrome frame as standard. By 1974 production was altered to change the chrome frame to a lighter bentwood, laminated structure to allow quicker manufacture and easier distribution and as Vatner Møbler’s sales of the chair tripled over just a 2-year period the falcon chair soon became an icon of outstanding Scandinavian design. However, the chrome Falcons have always been considered the most beautiful and most sought after representation of the design and of course were exactly as Ressell first designed them. This success led to Danish manufacturer Trygg Mobler, in collaboration with designers Steelladder, to produce a rival to the Vatne chair that they believed was better – the Superstar.

To begin with they used thicker gauge steel and then also added padded arm rests which they considered to be of fundamental importance to the comfort of the chair (not an option on the Vatne version). However, the most important change was the addition of buckled straps at each corner. This, in particular, was a useful practical addition that the original Falcon’s lacked as it allowed the chair height and tilt to be adapted to exactly fit the user’s requirements and preference – a detail that also followed through to the foot stools.

Vatne however, successfully stopped production of the rival Superstars with a court action in 1976 but the court action also worked both ways as Vatne were not allowed to produce a variation of their Falcons that could include the arm rests and buckled adjustment straps. This resulted in the Superstars becoming far rarer than the Falcons and more sought after because of the more comfortable additions.

Owned from new by the same family since the start of production in 1973 it’s clear this set has been truly cherished and very well looked after. As such it has the perfect amount of age related patina that adds to the appeal: the leather is warm colored with the subtle changes in colour that you look for in vintage aniline leather; the buckles and straps have wear and marks from adjusting the seat to the perfect seating position and finally the table has some small marks and small nibbles from the top edge from social gatherings and no doubt many vibrant parties.

They are presented in very good vintage condition commensurate with their age. There are marks and wear as you would expect given the set is now nearly 50 years old but there are no holes or tears in any of the leather and no rust or flaking of any of the chrome, and although the table does have a few very minor marks to the top edge there are no major chips out of the side edge or any major scratches.

Dimensions:
Chairs H 100 x W 76 x D 85cm
Seat height 43 cm
Ottomans H 40 x W 58 x D 58cm
Table H 40 x W 96 x D 96cm.