Updated March 21, 2010:
Midcentury Modern Chairs From a KK7 Design
by Kay Kørbing of Denmark

Made in 1968 for MV ASSEDO (ex SHOTA RUSTAVELI)

31 Inches Tall by 24 Inches Wide by 22 Inches Deep
Chrome Legs
Price: $225 USD each plus shipping

Top, the Garden Lounge on Norwegian America Lines MV SAGAFJORD of 1965. Bottom, Kay Korbing. Photos from the splendid book, PASSENGER SHIPS, SCANDINAVIAN STYLE by Bruce Peter, available from Carmania Press.

These were consigned to San Francisco-based X21 for recovering but returned after the tragic death of owner, John Conaty. Unfortunately, several were lost or unaccounted for before the company went belly up and abandoned its obligations to reimburse consignors such as MidShipCentury. Approximately ten of these are available with another half dozen missing their legs (others could feasibly be substituted).

Of the great mid century architects and designers, Danish Kay Korbing remains one of the most celebrated and influential. Born in 1915, the son of the technical director of DFDS Seaways, Korbing was inspired by passenger ships at an early age. Korbing received his degree from the Danish Royal Academy School of Architecture (studying alongside, among others, Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House), but ultimately had to seek work in Sweden due to the German occupation of Denmark.

The Officer's Mess on board the SHOTA RUSTAVELI in 1998. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1998.

A milestone came upon his return to Denmark after the war, when he won the commission to rebuild the Denmark House at Londons Piccadilly. Soon, he dabbled in ship interiors, beginning with the DFDS cargo liner NAXOS and then taking on the progressively modern ferry liners PRINSESSE MARGRETHE and KONG OLAV V of 1957. His designs incorporated wide open spaces, the hiding of all wiring, piping, and other types of functional clutter, and the use of clean, modern surfaces as well as the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship.

Top images show chairs in their original velvet upholstery (pale magenta cotton also available). Bottom image shows one refurbished in blue as recently sold by Pegaso International of Los Angeles.

The work Korbing did with the DFDS ferries ENGLAND, WINSTON CHURCHILL, the latter KONG OLAV, PRINSESSE MARGRETHE and other noteable vessels had a huge influence on the look and style of 1960s passenger ships and even took hold with land-based establishments. His KK7 and KK8 chairs became available in Denmark by Gotfred H. Petersen of Store Heddinge and were even sold in the U.S. by Morris Goldman of New York-based JG Furniture Company. Even knock-offs of his designs began to command high prices and huge demand. One of his crowning achievements was the spectacular forward-facing (literally and figuratively) Garden Lounge on Norwegian America Lines SAGAFJORD of 1965.

For more information on Kay Korbing, highly recommeded reading includes not only PASSENGER LINERS SCANDINAVIAN STYLE, but DANISH SHIP DESIGN 1931 -- 1991, also by Bruce Peter, and available from Ferry Publications.

The Tourist Class Bar on board the WINSTON CHURCHILL. From PASSENGER SHIPS SCANDINAVIAN STYLE by Bruce Peter. Note the Orrefors crystal celiling lights as well as the KK7 chairs.

When she arrived at Alang in late 2003, the ASSEDO was still in remarkably good condition. The 1968-built ship was originally the SHOTA RUSTAVELI, the fourth in a quintet of handsome and well-appointed liners in the ice-strengthened "poet" class that included IVAN FRANKO, ALEXANDR PUSHKIN (currently Cruise and Maritimes' MARCO POLO), TARAS SHEVCHENKO, and MIKHAIL LERMONTOV. They were Soviet utilitarian sprinkled with some of the latest styles from Northern Europe made available to their East German shipyard. These chairs were relegated to officers' territory on the ship as fashions changed, and even retained their original, if slightly worn, velvet (or velour) upholstery.

The hexagonal backs and obtusely-shaped quadrilateral arm rests are especially appealing. The original, well worn upholstery is in olive green or brown velvet and in a pale magenta cotton material.