The First Chair: Mid Century Reproduction

Walking along Queen street on a Sunday afternoon, I stumbled upon MORBA, a home decor/furniture store, charmingly crammed with an eclectic mix of modern and retro items. The chairs I found here were reproductions, but I loved them all the same.

The first is a copy of Danish designer Hans Wegner's Shell Chair, circa 1963.

It's an updated version of his first, which was created in 1948.

The chair almost fell out of production, but luckily it was revived in 1997 and did very well for itself. I love the way it curves so sleekly and sits on three legs. The comfort of the added cushion on the back and seat provides just the right amount of support. Like the original, this reproduction is made of plywood shells, with laminate legs. The front two are one continuous piece and the hind one is a separate entity. At this store, the model is available in American Walnut and cushions are made of microfiber. The better to sit in, my dear.


Now, an original chair usually runs anywhere from $2500 and up but a quality reproduction is a great way to afford a certain style on a tighter budget. At MORBA, this is on sale for:

Pretty great, hmm? There's more to come. In the meantime, if you want to look for yourself you can find them at 667 Queen Street West or check out their online store for other varieties.