This 'Bow Wood no 03' Side Chair, designed in the late 1940s/early 1950's, features a distinctive plywood construction with a curved bow-shaped design in steam bent solid oak. The chair was inspired on a sketch by Wilhelm von Bode. And this specific chair is a early edition manufactured by Hugues Steiner.

The chair is crafted from high-quality plywood, offering both durability and flexibility. It retains its exceptionally good original condition, showing minimal signs of wear despite its age. The design emphasizes functional simplicity with clean, streamlined lines typical of mid-century modern furniture. The chair’s structure is both sturdy and lightweight, making it practical for various settings. This piece reflects the design principles of bent wood chairs showing similarities to chairs from American designers such as Norman Cherner and the Pretzel chair by George Nelson focusing on practicality and efficient use of materials. 

Hugues Steiner was a French furniture company known for its innovative and modern designs, founded by Charles Steiner and later led by his son, Hugues. Under Hugues’ leadership, the company became famous for its "Bow-wood" series, using bentwood techniques to create stylish and affordable furniture. Steiner collaborated with top designers like Pierre Guariche, whose SK660 chair became an icon, and ARP (Pierre Guariche, Michel Mortier, and Joseph-André Motte), who helped shape the company’s mid-century aesthetic. Other notable partnerships included Michel Mortier’s SF 103 Triennale armchair and Kwok Hoi Chan’s avant-garde designs. Expanding into office furniture with Sedia Steiner in the 1960s, the company adapted to changing tastes but struggled with the 1970s oil crisis. In 1988, after decades of success, Hugues Steiner sold the company to Koval Industries, marking the end of an era.

Condition
The chair is in good original condition with a beautiful patina. The chair’s aesthetic appeal makes it more suitable as an accent piece or for spaces where it is less likely to endure heavy use. The construction of the chair is still very good

We have consciously chosen to photograph all of our items in their current state to present the real original condition as completely as possible for transparency towards our clients.

In case you have any additional questions about the original condition, always feel free to reach out and ask us for additional images. We do also offer services such as restoration and re-upholstery in case this is wished for.