Olof Ottelin, a 1960's 'Jumbo' armchair nr 174, for Oy Stockmann Ab, Keravan puusepäntehdas.
Wooden frame lacquered in red, upholstered with a checkered fabric, marked underneath with a pen Jumbo 174 and labeled. Width 73 cm. Height to seat c. 30 cm. Total height 65 cm.
Wear due to age and use. Marks. Scratches. Partly worn on the armrests. Original stuffing dried. Crack on the leg. Colour loss.
Karl Olof Ottelin was born in Helsinki May 3rd 1917. Ottelin graduated high school in 1938 from the Svenska Normallyceum in Helsinki. The following year, Ottelin started his studies at Centralskolan för Konstflit, where he studied under many known artists, including Werner West. After finishing his freshman year, Ottelin was forced to put his studies on hold because of the war. He graduated as an interior designer in 1946, and Ottelin's first employments were as a furniture scribe, initially at Sopenkorpi Oy Lahti (1946-1947) and later at Majander's furniture store Oy Mobilia Ab in Helsinki (1947).
In 1948 Olof Ottelin was employed as a furniture architect at Stockmann's office of creative design, until 1953, when he was appointed Chief of Stockmann's furniture department. In 1955, Ottelin was chosen as Werner West's successor and was appointed Artistic Director of Stockmann's Interior Departments, until 1971.