Artifort - Theo Ruth - Armchair - Penguin - Beech - Theo Ruth armchairs

Important pair of chairs by Dutch designer Theo Ruth, published by Artifort, 'Art and Comfort,' between 1948 and 1950. This model is the very rare first edition of the Congo Arm Chair. Indeed, it has rarely been sold on the market, and even less so with the armrest version. They probably produced it in a limited edition over a very short period.

It is very different from the 'Congo' or the classic 'Pinguin' in that the dorsal part is removable and can be positioned as a chaise lounge or armchair. Its base has two legs that extend in a rounded shape backward, reminiscent of Carlo Molina's productions from the same period.

The woods have been sanded and varnished, and the armchair has been reupholstered with a new light brown mottled upholstery fabric.

Dutch designer Theo Ruth was born in 1915 in Maastricht. He studied furniture and interior design at the Middelbare Kunstnijverheidsschool in Maastricht (now known as the Maastricht Academy of Arts). In 1936, he joined Artifort, specializing in living room furniture design. Three years later, in 1939, he became the director of design and development, a position he held until his death in 1971.

Theo Ruth is the first permanent designer at Artifort, and he has had a significant impact on the resulting design. Among his most famous pieces are the Congo Chair (1952) and the Penguin Chair (1957), both composed of two parts that assemble without locks or nails. The latest version of the Penguin Chair features a black backrest and a white cushion, reminiscent of a penguin's colors. Designers Pierre Paulin and Geoffrey Harcourt also collaborated with Artifort's design department while Theo Ruth was still in office.