Wooden Armchairs by Jaroslav Smidek for TON, 1960s, Set of 2

These chairs have been refurbished with brand new cushions as well as brand new upholstery.


This pair of 1960s wooden armchairs, designed by Jaroslav Smidek for TON, combine typical rustic elements with a streamlined Modernist geometry for an effect that is both comfortingly familiar and stylishly unique. Sourced from Czechia, the spindled backrest and legs recall the design of traditional country kitchen furniture, while the sleek curve of the bentwood armrests and the deep recline of the seat evoke an impression of elegance and ease. This interplay of contrasts is extended through the materials themselves: the sharp silhouette of the polished, ebonized wood is offset by the soothing texture of the cushions, upholstered in a soft, cream, off white colored boucle.


Height: 35.8 in (90.94 cm)

Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)

Depth: 25.2 in (64.01 cm)

The son of a furniture dealer and upholsterer, Jaroslav Smidek, like Jan Vanek and Jindrich Halabala, was born into the trade. Growing up, he helped out in the family workshop, where he learned his father’s craft.


Although he trained as an architect, Smidek quickly turned to industrial design, developing Montisektor furnishings, a line of pieces that could be assembled at home from prefabricated parts, in 1956 for VNP — a significant advance in Czech furniture production.


But it is his seating, such as the chairs he created for Jitona in the 1960s, that is most in demand. While his chairs carry a Scandinavian touch, there is no mistaking the gentle elegance of their uniquely Eastern European aesthetic.