The foundations of Artifort were laid by Jules Wagemans when he set up business as an upholsterer in Maastricht in 1890. His son, Henricus Wagemans, expanded the company into a furniture factory, which had a showroom in Amsterdam by the end of the nineteen twenties and was already well known nationally. The economic recession of the nineteen-thirties forced H. Wagemans & Van Tuinen, as the furniture company was then known, to create a distinctive profile. Developing a catchy brand name and logo was a start. And naturally the furniture had to be distinctive too. The emphasis came to lie on functionality, comfort and quality combined with aesthetically pleasing design and an innovative use of materials. In 1928 the new brand name was introduced: Artifort, derived from the Latin word ‘ars’ meaning art or knowledge, and ‘fortis’ meaning strong or powerful. The word ‘comfort’ is also reflected in this brand name.

Oversized pair of French Art Deco lounge club chairs, circa 1920-1930. The front of the arms are covered in beautiful burl wood. Very comfortable to sit in. The fabric is a short haired velvet in Zebra print. The interior (foam / coil springs) are in very good condition but the fabric has some staining and discoloration on the back (the fabric could use a professional cleaning). The fabric has little wear and tear and still strong.

Beautiful pair of Halabala lounge chairs from 1957. The chairs still have the original fabric which is in good condition (just some minor staining which is shown in the pictures). They are rare to find with origininal fabric in this good condition. The stained wood has some fading on the armrests.