Tour Eiffel K1 Chair by Maurice Calka, France, 1960s

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About This Piece

Vintage Design

Maurice Calka, rare “Tour Eiffel” K1 chair. France, c. 1966

The K1 chair was part of Alpha International’s first furniture collection for private interiors, launched in 1966. Maurice Calka was selected to design the initial pieces, preceding later collaborations with designers such as Pierre Paulin and Joseph-André Motte.

This example is a rare variant of the K1 chair, more commonly found with the circular “DS wheel” base. It features a resin and fiberglass shell, upholstered in polyvinyl stretched over latex foam, resting on a chromed steel base known as the “Tour Eiffel.” Calka drew inspiration for this structure from the work of Charles and Ray Eames, whom he greatly admired.

As of this listing, the only other known example of this variant is part of the Centre Pompidou collection, donated to the national museum by the artist’s family.

Surface wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage and structural condition.

Bibliography: Xavier De Jarcy, Maurice Calka, le sculpteur du design, Éd. Albin Michel, 2022, pp. 214–217.

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Creator	Maurice Calka
Manufacturer	Alpha International
Design Period	1960 to 1969
Production Period	1960 to 1969
Country of Manufacture	France
Identifying Marks	This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style	French, Vintage, Midcentury, Space Age
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage/antique item may have some wear such as scratches and other signs of ageing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use
Product Code	ERF-2277456
Materials	Chrome Plating, Steel, Vinyl, Latex, Resin
Color	Brown, silver
Width	70 cm 70 cm
Depth	69 cm 69 cm
Height	73 cm 73 cm
Seat Height	41 cm

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	France
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

About the Creator

Maurice Calka

Sculptor and designer Maurice Calka was born in 1921 in Lodz, Poland, and raised in Lille, France. At the age of 16, he began studying art at the Lille School of the Fine Arts. In 1942, he joined the Free French Forces, the resistance group founded by Charles de Gaulle, and remained in the military until 1945. Calka then returned to school, studying sculpture at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he later taught. In 1950, he was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome, an honor that allowed him the opportunity to work in the Villa Médicis in Rome for four years. While there, he studied urbanism.

Over the course of his career, Calka worked primarily in France but also took on international projects, including nearly 50 works of public art ranging from sculptures to bas-reliefs and multicolored objects. In 1954, he received his first and best-known urban-art commission for the stone Lion of Judah in front of the National Theater in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The sculpture, which became a symbol of Afrocentrism, was commissioned by Emperor Haile Selassie to reflect the notion of Africa entering modern times.

Calka’s other best-known piece is the 1969 curvaceous Boomerang Desk, made of polyester resin and fiberglass. Calka passed away in 1999.