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The Winnipeg Chair
Created in the 1940s by A.J. Donahue of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture, the Winnipeg Chair is a low-back lounging chair with a moulded plywood base. // PHOTO BY HENRY KALEN. PROVIDED BY NEIL MINUK

The Winnipeg Chair

You might want to sit down for this story. Especially if you are lucky enough to own a Winnipeg Chair.

Created in the 1940s by A.J. Donahue of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture, the Winnipeg Chair is a low-back lounging chair with a moulded plywood base. Donahue built it in his basement with assistance from students from his architectural design course. The chair was sold at Hudson’s Bay for $35, but only about 200 of this iconic Canadian classic were ever made, although knock-offs are in production today.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Donahue graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Minnesota in 1941, then a master’s degree from Harvard in 1942. There, working under the famous designers Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius, he gained a strong exposure to the International Style and was the first Canadian to graduate from Harvard’s School of Design.

As for the Winnipeg Chair, originals are hard to come by. However, in 2014, U of M alumna Nancy Owen [BID/85], of Winnipeg’s Workshop Designs, received an original Winnipeg Chair for restoration. Owen re-chromed the original brass legs, refinished the plywood shell and reupholstered the cloth seat. A.J. Donahue would be proud.

5 comments on “The Winnipeg Chair

  1. Adam W

    We have one as well. I am thinking of refinishing it for my daughter’s room, they are indeed well built. My grandmother bought it at an auction in the 60s.

  2. Anthony

    I have owned 6 of these chairs in the past 4 years. I own a pair of them currently. And they are vintage original pieces. Gorgeous design. But I question if there were not more of them produced…they were sold in Bay stores in the early 1950s for $30-40. One of my chairs even has remmenants of an old tag underneath it that speaks of something being more widely produced than just the 200 believed. I would dare venture that there are more like 2000 of these exist based on my findings.

  3. Anne

    What markings do you have? I’ve heard Cortini Furniture Manufacturing made the chair, and other designer chairs. I can’t find anything on Cortini
    There was also a stool at one point

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