Set of 3 Vintage Dal Vera Model 860 “Les Arcs” Cognac Leather Chairs, c. 1960s–70s

Vintage Dal Vera Model 860 “Les Arcs” Leather Chairs — Italy, c. Late 1960s–1970s

An exceptional set of three vintage Model 860 sling chairs attributed to Dal Vera, Italy, a celebrated design introduced in 1967 and later selected by legendary French architect and designer Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs project in 1969.

Originally conceived as a lightweight, compact and stackable chair, the Model 860 embodies the functional simplicity that defined European modernist design of the period. Its remarkably minimal construction consists of a slender tubular metal frame supporting a single continuous sling of substantial cognac leather, secured directly to the structure with exposed metal fastenings and leather-wrapped connections.

The beauty of these chairs lies equally in their construction and in the extraordinary character acquired over decades of use. The cognac leather has developed a rich, highly individual patina with variations in tone, creasing, markings and wear that could only be achieved naturally with age. Rather than diminishing the chairs, this surface history gives each example its own character and beautifully emphasizes the simplicity of the original design.

Their compact proportions and surprisingly light construction allow the chairs to be easily moved and stacked together, an important functional characteristic associated with the original Model 860. Despite their visually delicate appearance, the tensioned leather sling creates a remarkably supportive seat.

The Model 860 predates its famous association with Les Arcs: Dal Vera introduced the design in 1967, before Charlotte Perriand selected the chair for the interiors of the newly developed Les Arcs ski resort in the French Alps in 1969. The chair has since become closely associated with the understated, functional aesthetic of the Les Arcs interiors and with an important period of European modernist design.

Offered as a set of three, these examples retain a beautifully untouched vintage appearance, with substantial original character throughout the leather and age-appropriate wear to the metal frames. Their honest patina is an integral part of their appeal and has intentionally been preserved.

Dimensions (each): 35” H × 18” W 
Seat height: 18”

Italy, circa late 1960s–1970s.