PRESSNOTE / IW4
Eilersen bringsarmchair no. 4 to life
In 1959, the Danish furniture designer Illum Wikkelsø (1919-99), designed an armchair for Eilersen which, for manyyears, led a shelteredlife. Eilersen has nowbrought it back to be part of the collection.
Illum Wikkelsødesigned No. 4 with stringent lines and with function in mind. It combinesEilersen'sexpertise on wood and upholstery in onepiece of furniture. The result is an honestchair, whichWikkelsø has refined with veryfewaccoutrements, so thatitsgreatseatingcomfort matches the artistic vision. The chair's base consists of a solid wooden frame of oiled, black-lacquered and soapedoak, and the architect has afforded the No. 4 extra support with a slightslope in the back and seat. Wikkelsødecided to have the frame continueelegantly up through the arm, breaking the clean lines and giving the armchair a subtle finesse.
Over 120 years, Eilersen has refined and perfecteditsknowledge of carpentry and upholstery and is nowready to begin a new era of furniture. Furniturewhich supplements and complements the renowned sofas that have long sincesecuredtheir positions on the international design stage. As with the sofas, Eilersen believesthat it shouldbe up to the individual to choosewhether the cushionsshouldbeupholstered with leather or fabric, whethertheyshouldbe with or withoutbuttons, and whether the seatcushionsare of foam or Eilersen'swell-knownsoft, downcovering. The onlyconstant is change, but the freedom to design the chair'sstyle so that it matches the rest of the interiorremains.
The history of a fruitfulpartnershiprepeatsitself
It is not a new phenomenon for Eilersen to produce types of furnitureotherthan sofas. The 1950s and 1960s echoed to the sound of productionideas and input from a team of Danish architectswhocreated sofas, tables and chairs for Eilersen'sstudio. When the Eilersen familyembarked on a review of the many designs from previousproductions, manyanecdotesalsoemerged. One of the anecdotesconcerns the partnershipbetween Jens Juul Eilersen (1937) and the architect, Wikkelsø.
In 1960, a young Jens Juul Eilersen assumedresponsibility for the company's design studio, whichmeantthathewouldwork with architects and gettingthem to design new furniture and devise future collections. The dayafter Jens Juul Eilersen and Wikkelsø had discussed and perfected the final details of No 4, Jens Juul Eilersen calledWikkelsø. However, he did not answer the phone himself, but rather his wife. SheexplainedthatWikkelsøcould not come to the phonebecause the previousday'sconversation had wornhim out so muchthathewasindisposed. It wasalwaysthuswhenhe had attended a meeting at the factory. It shouldbementionedthat the twocooperated for a long time and developed a range of furnituretogether. And now Eilersen is revivingone of his most successfularmchairs.
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Background information
N. Eilersen A/S
Founded in 1895, the company has given name and life to manyclassics. Founder Niels Eilersen was the first in Denmark to usesteam to shapewood, and innovation and tradition are still hallmarks of the company. Since the 1930s, N. Eilersen A/S has producedfurniture with a focus on top qualitymaterials, comfort and durability. This strategy has made Eilersen a well-known and recognized brand bothnationally and internationally, and several of their sofa models carry the designation “state of the art”. N. Eilersen A/S is a family business, currentlyoperated by the fourth generation.
The factthat a piece of furniturebears the Eilersen name is a guarantee of excellent quality, comfort and uniquedurability.