1960s Safari Chair Set,

Set Of 3
Two Safari Lounge Chairs
One Safari Ottoman

These stunning Safari sling lounge chairs, are early examples of the “Chelsea” model, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1960s for Arkana. The heavy black Naugahyde (faux leather), is soft and in great original condition, accented with over-sized steel rivets on a ebonised hardwood (likely teak) frame and steel stretchers. The chairs are very comfortable and have been well looked after having been in the same house since new. The design allows the user to sit upright, or slide the seat forward on the rails to recline where the back rest pivots a little to add to the “lounge” feel.
The underside of both chairs is stamped with the makers mark “arkana, Falkirk, Scotland. Made in Great Britain patent applied for.” This means they are very early examples as they are stamped Scotland (not Bath), and do not have the registered design numbers, unlike the later 1970s pieces. The later pieces also have Allen key screws instead of the over-sized steel rivets.
As with all “Safari” chairs, this piece was designed to be disassembled, and they will flat pack into a smaller box if needed for shipping.
Measurements: 69cm D x 65cm W x 69cm H - seat height 37cm
Condition:
Both chairs are in good solid condition. They have age-related patina to the ebonised wood. The faux leather is overall in good condition, although there is a small split on the arm of one of the chairs, where you would rest your hand - all of which can be seen in the images.
History:
In the 1950s Maurice Burke was a salesman in the US for Herman Miller, and went on to set up Burke Inc in 1959 before moving to Great Britain in 1963 to set up Arkana based in Falkirk, Scotland. One of the earliest designs added to Maurice’s catalogue at Arkana, was the Chelsea Campaign style chair, which was directly based on earlier camp chairs used by the Dutch Army. By the late 1960s Arkana was acquired by the Christie Tyler group, who already owned Bath Cabinet Makers and Avalon Furniture, and therefore production of Arkana pieces subsequently moved from Scotland to Bath.