Danish design meets French cabinetmaking in this set of four dining chairs by Søren Nissen and Ebbe Gehl. Produced by Ebénisterie Seltz in France during the 1980s, the chairs combine an unusual construction with a clear understanding of solid wood and proportion.

Design

Nissen and Gehl began their collaboration as cabinetmakers in Copenhagen during the 1970s, developing furniture in which construction often becomes part of the visual language. For Seltz, this approach resulted in the FCH 1A chair, a model produced for a relatively short period during the 1980s. The design is executed primarily in solid beech, complemented by darker elm details.

Each chair is built around two contrasting geometries. Slender rounded front legs and horizontal stretchers provide a restrained framework, set against the tall, angular back. Two broad wooden elements rise diagonally from the extended rear base and meet at the top, forming an elongated triangular opening. Darker triangular inserts in elm complete this junction and give the backrest a subtle graphic accent. The same diagonal construction continues below the seat, allowing the chair to read clearly from the side and rear.

A gently curved seat is assembled from three solid wooden panels, with softened edges following the line of the front rail. This slight curvature offsets the angular back and contributes to the chair’s balanced proportions. Comparable examples identify the model as FCH 1A and confirm the combination of beech with elm detailing.

Seen together, the four chairs create a rhythmic architectural composition. Their open backs and relatively narrow profiles make the set particularly suited to a dining table where the construction can remain visible from several viewpoints.

Condition

The chairs remain in excellent vintage condition, showing minor traces of use consistent with their age. The timber displays an even, warm patina, with small variations and signs of wear visible across the set.