Incollect Magazine - Issue 13

42 www.incollect.com HAPPENINGS When Brazilian architect and designer Oscar Niemeyer designed this piece in 1971, he was moving away from the rigid formalities of European modernism and toward something much more human: the curve. He famously believed that right angles were “hard and inflexible,” whereas curves were the natural shapes of the earth, the ocean, and the body. Most mid-century chairs are surprisingly narrow, but Niemeyer sketched the Alta with a distinct, welcoming width. It is a chair that allows you to shift, to cross your legs, to settle in. The low profile is intentional — it grounds the room. By keeping the sightlines low, the Alta makes the space around it feel larger and airier, while the sitter feels securely held. It is a piece of architecture that serves the person, not the other way around. The magic lies in the transition between materials. The base is a continuous ribbon of satin-brushed steel — cool, sleek, and light- catching. But atop this architectural foundation sits a landscape of deep, tufted leather. The cushions are thick and forgiving. They are designed to soften the steel, creating a feeling of effortless suspension. It is a rare combination of visual lightness and physical substance; it looks like a sketch in the air, but feels like a solid embrace. Because Mobilier International produced these for only a short time in the 1970s, finding a set today is rare. But finding one that retains its original warmth is even harder. At Boketto, we look for examples where the “soul” of the chair is intact. We specifically seek out the sets where the leather has aged into that perfect, inviting softness that new production simply cannot mimic. We look for steel that has that specific, soft glow of the era, rather than the harsh shine of modern chrome. This is not just a collector’s item to be admired from afar. It is the chair you will instinctively head toward in the evening. It is a piece of history, yes, but more importantly, it is the most comfortable place in the room. Wojciech Voy Kasperski, Incollect dealer and managing partner of Boketto USA tells the story of the statement piece, Oscar Niemeyer’s “Alta” Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Mobilier International, 1971 Seeking Soulful Seating