Design story
Helge Sibast No 9 is a simple, light and functional chair with an unfailing sense of style, closely related to Sibast No 7 and Sibast No 8. The relation to Sibast No 8 is particularly obvious: they both have a characteristic Y-shaped frame, which not only add a distinct look but also serves to strengthen the chair.
The chair features a hovering seat and front legs that angle slightly inwards – a design detail which gives the chair a slim, dynamic style seen from the front. From the side, the inverted Y-shaped frame stands out, accentuating the embracing top rail that enhances the chair’s unique identity.
The Sibast story dates back to 1908 in a small carpentry shop on a Danish island. Peder Olsen Sibast started his own small business, where he carpented and sold wooden furniture. That same year he had a son, Helge Sibast (1908-1985). The years passed, Helge got bigger, and soon he was apprenticed to his father. He was trained as a carpenter and, together with his three siblings, took over his father’s business. Helge was responsible for the management and especially the production in the business. He was skilled – he challenged wood in a way that had not been tried before. And soon he started drawing his own furniture
Helge Sibast was also a visionary designer, who always strived for perfection and refined style. In his efforts to create the best chair every time, he worked through many sketches to fine-tuned both craftsmanship and style.
Sibast’s business was successful and quickly took off. In the 1950s and 1960s his simple, functional and high-quality designs gained success both in and outside Denmark. It even made their way to the White House. His best known designs, Sibast chairs No 7, 8 and 9, were all designed in 1953. A busy year for Sibast.
Today, the Sibast’s tradition is carried on by Sibast Furniture, which was relaunched in 2012 by Helge Sibast’s grandson and his wife. Read more about designers here.
