Winfried Totzek DS-142 Wing Chair for De Sede

The DS-142 is what happens when a physician and a Swiss luxury furniture maker decide to collaborate. Designed by Dr. Winfried Totzek for De Sede in the 1980s, this wing chair — known among collectors as the 'Totzek Liege' — puts ergonomics at the centre of every design decision, then wraps the result in the kind of leather and steel that De Sede is famous for.

The mechanics are remarkable. Adjustable armrests swing out of the way or lock into your preferred position. The backrest reclines smoothly from upright reading posture to full chaise longue mode. The steel frame provides architectural rigidity while the leather upholstery moulds to your body over time. Every surface you touch — from the padded armrests to the gently curved seat — has been considered from both an engineering and a comfort perspective.

This particular DS-142 shows minor surface scratches on the leather, consistent with normal use over several decades. The mechanical adjustments all function as intended, the steel frame is pristine, and the overall condition is good. It remains a fully functional piece of ergonomic furniture, not just a design object.

Totzek brought his medical background to the De Sede design team at a time when ergonomic furniture was still largely the domain of office equipment manufacturers. The DS-142 proved that a chair could be both medically sound and aesthetically compelling — it went on to win several prestigious design awards. The collaboration between Totzek's clinical understanding of the human body and De Sede's mastery of leather and metalwork produced something genuinely original.

This is a chair for someone who takes both comfort and design seriously. It occupies a space between furniture and sculpture, between medical device and luxury object — and it does so with the quiet confidence of Swiss craftsmanship at its finest.