1970s Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke

These "Safari" chairs, designed by Maurice Burke (1921-2013) for Arkana, are highly sought after by collectors. Made with high end durable  black vinyl ( they almost look like leather ) and teakwood, they are both comfortable and stylish, making them a standout addition to any space. 

There is some very light wear here and there overall great vintage condition 

Dimensions:
25”W x 23”D x 29”H
 seat height 16"H

Ottoman : 25”W x 21”D x 15”H

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A bit of history on the Designer 

(fragments of the biography of the designer on the website:  www.arkanaarchive.com )

Maurice was born Maurice Bourque on November 21st, 1921, in Springside Saskatchewan. Coming from a French-Canadian family that traced its roots back to the early Acadian settlements of the Maritimes, he was the sole survivor of five sons, along with a single sister, Cecile. His father ran the local General Store, but as the 30’s arrived, the Depression brought much of the community to bankruptcy alongside the Bourque’s family business. The family relocated to Montreal Quebec, and Maurice secured a stable position working as a personal secretary for the President of the Canadian National Railway. However, when Canada joined the British Empire’s war on Germany in 1939, he joined the Canadian Army and shipped off early to Britain. There he would join the nascent Canadian Tank Corps, becoming an early tank commander. But a serious injury during training led to him leaving the Tank Corps. Maurice had attained the rank of Major, and was ready to return to the Americas to start a new adventure in a very different field. Maurice returned to Canada briefly in 1946 with his newly married wife, Felicity. However, shortly after she gave birth to their first son Duncan in Toronto the next year, Maurice became fascinated with the world of furniture production and design. Finding relatively few options in Canada, the family relocated stateside to Los Angeles, California, where Maurice joined the Hermann Miller as a salesman in 1950. Working alongside early mid-century designers including Harry Bertoia and Ray Eames soon inspired Maurice to try his own venture under the name Felmore, with a store in Pacific Palisades. in 1959 he was ready to premiere his next company: Burke Inc. By the 1960’s, Burke Inc. had showrooms in every major American city. But Maurice was an entrepreneur first and foremost, and something about the pressures of success of Burke Inc and it’s intensifying demands on his time prompted him to sell the company in 1963 to Brunswick. After the sale of Burke Inc., Maurice quickly moved to set up a new business in the United Kingdom, in part due to its incentives for new businesses in the north. Arkana would open the same year as the family relocated in 1963, but by 1965 Maurice was out of the day-to-day running of the company in favour of focusing on design. 

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NB- Please be sure to read all the details very clearly  and reach out to us to provide further details before making  a purchase as all SALES ARE FINAL, we do not offer any exchanges or returns.

Major flaws will be highlighted  and  minor imperfections should be expected  on vintage goods due to age and use. 

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Please also  note that the purchase price DOES NOT include shipping costs. To obtain a shipping quote, kindly contact us via Instagram direct message or email kollectionbyirie@gmail.com before making your purchase.

The customer is responsible for shipping costs. Our packaging process ensures the utmost care for the items, but we cannot be held liable for any damages caused by couriers after the items leave our care. It is important to note that courier companies only provide coverage for missing or lost packages.