Thanks to design lovers’ enthusiasm for Art Deco and mid-century modern furniture, and the increasingly competitive market for pieces by more famous creators, 20th-century Czech designers are making their way back onto the international stage. Foremost among these talents is Jindřich Halabala.
Halabala was one of the leading designers of a particularly rich period in Czech furniture history, when pieces were defined by Bauhaus functionalism as well as Art Deco influences. He was a cabinetmaker’s son whose training was almost wholly focused on woodwork, first at a state-run vocational school for woodworking in Valašské Meziříčí and later at UP Závody in Brno, where he ultimately became chief designer.
Halabala's alluring bentwood H chairs, such as the H269 and H237, and stylized ottomans have become classics, while his 1930s and 1940s sofas, tables and storage cabinets, with their sweeping curves, stylized geometry and dark, richly grained wood, embody the best of Art Deco furniture design, a style that was brought to worldwide attention at an exhibition in Paris in 1925.
Halabala's work, which was manufactured by the likes of Thonet and UP Závody, is seen by some as the segue between early 1900s Czech Cubism and the modern style that dominated the mid-century years.
Find a collection of vintage Jindřich Halabala furniture today on 1stDibs.
Restored Art Deco Armchair, by J. Halabala, UP Závody, Model C, Czech, 1940s
By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Chair model C - also known as "Canadian" This Art Deco armchair date back to the mid-20th century and was designed by the iconic Czech designer Jindřich Halabala for UP Závody. Craf...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Beech, Lacquer
Restored Art Deco Armchair, by J. Halabala for UP Závody, H-269, Czech, 1930s
By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Product number: H-269 This armchair is an absolute icon of Central European interwar design and one of the most sought-after seating models from the Art Deco / early modernist era i...
Fabric, Beech, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
Restored Art Deco H-269 Armchair, by J. Halabala for UP Závody, Czech, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Product number: H-269 This armchair is one of the most celebrated icons of Czechoslovak and international furniture history. This is the legendary model H-269, designed in the 1930s...
Fabric, Beech, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
Restored Art Deco Armchair, by J. Halabala for UP Zavody, Beech, Czech, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This armchair is an icon of interwar Czechoslovak design from the 1930s. Conceived by the designer Jindřich Halabala, this design sits on the borderline of Art Deco and emerging func...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Beech, Lacquer
Restored Art Deco Armchair, by J. Halabala for UP Zavody, Walnut, Czech, 1930s
By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This exceptional armchair is an iconic representative of the Art Deco style, manufactured in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. It is a famous design by architect Jindřich Halabala for...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Restored Art Deco Armchair, by Jindrich Halabala, UP Zavody, Czech, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Art Deco Armchair Designed by Jindrich Halabala Period: 1930-1939 Designer: Jindrich Halabala Maker: UP Zavody Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Material: Walnut With this armchair,...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer, Oak
Adjustable H-70 Boucle Armchair by Jindrich Halabala, 1930s
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Wien, AT
This H-70 armchair was designed by Jindrich Halabala and produced by Spojene UP zavody, circa 1930. The backrest and seat can be put in three different pos...
Wool, Alpaca, Bentwood
Art-Deco Adjustable Armchair, Designed by Jindrich Halabala, Restored, 1930's
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of wood, fabric, metal Complete restored Very comfortable The yellow upholstery is in original condition (See photo) Good Original condition.
Fabric, Wood
Art deco amrchair H320 by J.Halabala for UP Závody
By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Art deco amrchair H320 by J.Halabala for UP Závody. Professionally stained and repolished.
Fabric, Beech, Bentwood
Jindrich Halabala Adjustable H-70 Oak Bentwood Lounge Chair, Praque 1930s
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Almelo, NL
Jindrich Halabala Adjustable H-70 Oak Bentwood Lounge Chair, Praque 1930s This H-70 armchair was designed by Jindrich Halabala and produced by Spojene U...
Upholstery, Bentwood
Art Deco Armchair by Jindřich Halabala, Czechoslovakia, 1940s
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
This refined Art Deco armchair was designed by Jindřich Halabala and produced in Czechoslovakia in the 1940s. Crafted from solid beechwood, the chair features elegantly bent armrests...
Fabric, Wood, Beech
Jindřich Halabala Adjustable H 70 Lounge Armchair in Cream Bouclé, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
This rare reclining armchair, model H 70, was designed in the 1930s by Jindřich Halabala—one of the most influential figures of European interwar modernism. Manufactured by UP Závody...
Bentwood
