Erik Buck (1923-1982), Armchair In Rio Rosewood, Orum Edition, Denmark, 1960

Armchair with a tapered Rio rosewood frame joined by stretchers and gracefully curved armrests. The back and seat are upholstered in their original black imitation leather. Stamped "Made in Denmark - Orum." 20th century, 1960. Erik Buck (1923-1982). The Danish industrial designer Erik Buch (pronounced "Buck") was born in 1923 in Copenhagen. A proponent of the modern Scandinavian style, Buch's organic and functional aesthetic resulted in furniture that includes chairs, stools, and other pieces. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, Buch combined fabric and leather with richly grained woods, such as polished teak, oak, and rosewood. Buch achieved his first success with the Model 49 chair (1949). The chair, produced in both carved and dining styles, features a curved, "floating" seat and a classic modern Scandinavian aesthetic. Perhaps his most famous creation, the Model 61 bar stool (1961) has a typically Scandinavian base and organically sculpted lines. Many of Buch's works are named after the year they were designed, particularly those produced by the cabinetmaker and furniture manufacturer Oddense Maskinsnedkeri. Oddense was renamed OD Møbler in the late 1960s or early 1970s, a name reflected on the labels of later Model 61 productions. Other works by Buch include the Captain's Chair (1955) for Ørum Møbler, and the Model 310 dining chair for Chr. Christiansen (1960s) and a rosewood T-shaped bar stool for Dyrlund (1960s). The year of his death is attributed to 1973, although some sources indicate 1982. Little is known about his personal life, but his professional legacy lives on and his designs remain popular in the vintage market for their quality materials, robust construction, and Scandinavian aesthetic.