Manni

Maloof, Krenov and Nakashima's linkages with the Danish style are certainly obvious. What I personally did not learned until recently is that the Danes' took direct inspiration from the Chineses. On teh excellent Dansish-furniture.com you see a picture of a chair by Wegner called the Chinese Chair, a design dated 1944. If you Google "chinese horseshoe chair", you'll find links to pictures of very similar designs from the age of the Ming dynasty! You can clearly see the evolution from this to the signature pieces Wegner created 4-5 years on (The Chaire and the Y-Chair).

Does that make Maloof, Krenov and Nakashima's work less original? Not to me. Does creativity automatically calls for complete uniqueness? A total break from history?? I love the Danish style and how it evolved in America in a style of its own. As a hobby-woodworker, I try to relate to these fantastic designers/crafstmen in my own little explorations with chairs. Thinking that someone in Danemark, California or China may have been - so many years ago - taken as I am today by a specific curve is quite something. It gives me a sense of connectiveness. Now, I'm probably just telling tales to myself. But they do make me feel good as I retreat to my shop.