42 - J.A. van ’t Leven

J.A. van ’t Leven Armchair Black-stained molded plywood One-of-a-kind prototype Netherlands, 2009 H80 W66 D50 cm; seat height 45 cm In good original condition, showing visible signs of use and some surface wear consistent with its experimental nature and age. A unique and striking prototype armchair, designed by Dutch interior architect and furniture designer J.A. van ’t Leven in 2009. The armchair is made entirely of black-stained plywood, with the laminated edges and the wood’s subtle grain remaining visible beneath the dark finish. Its most distinctive feature is the continuous curved shell that envelops the user to form the backrest, sides, and armrests. This fluid, almost ribbon-like profile contrasts with the sharply angled legs, giving the armchair a strong sculptural and architectural presence. Viewed from different angles, the construction reveals a carefully studied interplay of curves, cutouts, and intersecting planes. The raised center of the backrest and the delicately undulating armrests lend this rigorous, monochromatic design a surprisingly softened silhouette. J.A. van ’t Leven (1948–2018) was a Dutch interior architect, furniture designer, and environmental designer. He studied architectural design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, from which he graduated in 1978, before earning a degree in environmental design with honors in 1980. From 1981 to 2013, he taught at the same academy while working as an independent designer starting in 1983. In 1991, one of his dining chairs won the award for best classic Dutch furniture design at the Utrecht Furniture Fair. Created as an experimental prototype in 2009, this armchair remained a one-of-a-kind piece and was never commercially produced. A striking example of independent Dutch design, combining a technically ambitious plywood construction with a powerful, sculptural silhouette.