Modernab

Description

Guglielmo Ulrich dining chairs for Saffa Milano, green velvet and wood, 1950, set of eight

These 1950 dining chairs by Guglielmo Ulrich exemplifies the structural elegance of Italian mid-century design. Crafted in solid walnut, the frame integrates a single curved back post that continues seamlessly into the rear legs. The ladder-back design features four horizontal rails with a gentle gradation in spacing, echoing architectural rhythm and proportion. The frame shows an attractive authentic patina. The seat, upholstered in olive green velvet, offers contrast to the warm wood grain and introduces a tactile depth. Fluted legs provide vertical tension and refined detailing, typical of Ulrich’s neoclassical lineage. Lateral spindles reinforce structural stability while preserving visual lightness.

Ulrich, a Milanese architect and designer, worked alongside contemporaries like Gio Ponti and Paolo Buffa. While Ponti advanced modernism through rationalist geometry, Ulrich softened it with ornamental restraint and furniture scaled for intimacy. Similar attention to joinery and silhouette can be found in works by Osvaldo Borsani and Melchiorre Bega. However, Gugielmo Ulrich approaches volume delicately, tapering, never severe, remaining distinct. Guglielmo Ulrich often began his chair sketches by drafting the rear leg first, treating it not as support but as a visual anchor. This chair exemplifies that methodology, where structure becomes narrative.

Dimensions

Height: 35.43 in (90 cm)
Seat Height: 18.90 in (48 cm)
Width: 17.32 in (44 cm)
Depth: 18.11 in (46 cm)

Design

1950

Manufacture

1950-1959

Material

Wood and velvet

Condition

We accurately check the quality of every object. Our in-house expert craftsmen carefully reviewed the item.

Price

$9,000