1950s Czechoslovak Modernist Cantilever Chair by Kovona
1950s Czechoslovak Modernist Cantilever Chair by Kovona
A striking 1950s Czechoslovak cantilever chair produced by Kovona, combining a chromed tubular steel frame with a plywood seat and backrest finished in vivid pillar-box red.
The chair belongs to the remarkable continuation of pre-war Modernist tubular-steel furniture in post-war Czechoslovakia. Its seemingly simple construction creates the characteristic floating effect of the cantilever chair, while the bright red plywood gives the design an unexpectedly playful and graphic quality.
With its compact proportions and strong colour, this is a chair that works equally well as functional seating or as a distinctive accent piece in a contemporary interior.
Design & History
The cantilever chair was one of the great experiments of European Modernism.
By removing the traditional rear legs and supporting the seat on a continuous tubular steel frame, designers created a chair that appeared almost to float above the floor. Dutch architect Mart Stam was one of the pioneers of the concept, presenting his groundbreaking cantilever chair in connection with the influential 1927 Die Wohnung exhibition at the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart.
The idea was subsequently explored and refined by several leading Modernist designers and manufacturers, becoming one of the defining furniture forms of the interwar period.
This chair represents the continuation of that tradition in post-war Czechoslovakia.
Produced during the 1950s by Kovona, the state-controlled furniture manufacturer, it reflects how the tubular-steel vocabulary established during the interwar Modernist period continued to be manufactured and developed in Czechoslovakia after the Second World War.
Rather than attributing this particular model directly to Mart Stam without surviving documentary evidence, we prefer to see it as part of the wider Czechoslovak cantilever tradition that grew from the radical experiments of Stam and his contemporaries.
To discover more about the origins of this revolutionary form, read our Journal story, The Chair Without Back Legs: Mart Stam, Marcel Breuer and the Battle for the Cantilever Chair.
Design Details
The chair is built around a continuous chromed tubular steel frame, which forms the base, rises to support the seat and continues upwards to carry the backrest.
Without conventional rear legs, the construction gives the chair its characteristic light, suspended appearance.
The plywood seat and backrest introduce a warmer material against the polished metal frame. Both have been finished in a vivid pillar-box red, creating a bold contrast with the chrome.
The gently shaped backrest follows the body while remaining visually separate from the seat, preserving the openness and lightness of the overall construction.
Seen from the side, the chair is particularly elegant: the tubular frame describes a simple continuous line from floor to backrest, expressing the structural idea behind the design with very little visual distraction.
Why We Like It
For us, this chair is all about the combination of colour and construction.
The cantilever frame is pure Modernism - rational, economical and almost architectural - but the bright red completely changes its personality. Instead of feeling austere, the chair becomes playful, graphic and surprisingly contemporary.
We particularly like it from the side, where the simplicity of the tubular steel construction becomes most apparent and the seat seems to float above the floor.
It is also a fascinating example of how the experimental ideas of 1920s European Modernism survived into everyday Czechoslovak furniture production decades later.
And that red is difficult to ignore.
Condition
The chair is in good vintage condition and retains the character acquired through decades of use.
There is visible age-related wear to the chromed tubular steel frame, particularly around the lower sections, together with signs of use to the wooden elements, most noticeably on the backrest.
The plywood seat and backrest have been painted in a vivid pillar-box red, creating a strong contrast with the chromed steel frame.
These signs of age form part of the chair's vintage character. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed record of its condition.
The construction is stable and the chair is ready for use.
Details
Manufacturer: Kovona
Period: 1950s
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Materials: Plywood and chromed tubular steel
Condition: Good vintage condition
Quantity: 1 chair
Dimensions
Width: 42 cm
Depth: 51 cm
Height: 81 cm
Seat height: 46 cm
Delivery & Returns
The chair will be carefully packed and shipped from our studio in Brno, Czech Republic.
EU shipping: €40, confirmed at checkout
We also ship worldwide using trusted international couriers. Please contact us for a tailored shipping quote outside the EU.
EU customers have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.
If you would like to check anything before ordering - from condition and dimensions to delivery - Martin and Amy are always happy to help before and after your purchase.
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