US Army Medical Aluminium Frame Lounge Set – 2-Seater Sofa and Armchairs by Hans H. Hunnebeck, 1953 (Tempelhof Air Base, Berlin)

US Army Medical Aluminium Frame Lounge Set – 2-Seater Sofa and Armchairs by Hans H. Hunnebeck, 1953 (Tempelhof Air Base, Berlin)

Exceptional and extremely rare original 1953 U.S. Army Medical Corps aluminium frame lounge set, comprising one two-seater sofa and two matching armchairs. Manufactured by Hans H. Hunnebeck, Witten (West Germany), under official license from the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. The model was part of the standardized U.S. Army Medical Utility Furniture Program developed in the United States during the early Cold War era. While most examples were produced domestically in the U.S., a limited number were manufactured in West Germany for the American bases operating in the Allied occupation zones. These German-made pieces are far rarer and today highly sought after by collectors of military and industrial modernist design.

This set originates from the U.S. Air Force Base Hospital at Berlin Tempelhof Airport, the central American airbase in Europe during the 1950s. Each item bears the original U.S. Medical Corps insignia with the Caduceus emblem, along with the manufacturer’s stamp: “HANS H. HUNNEBECK – CONTRACT No. PCO4 – DATE OF MANUFACTURE 21 FEB 1953.”

The design reflects the postwar synthesis of American engineering and German precision, rooted in Bauhaus functionalism: curved tubular aluminium frame, ergonomically shaped armrests, modular structure, and removable padded cushions. Hunnebeck’s construction shows a clear relationship to early Knoll, Emeco and U.S. Army Utility furniture — durable, minimal, and timelessly functional.

Condition: structurally excellent, with no cracks, breaks or repairs. The frame is stable and retains its original coating with only light, age-appropriate wear. The vinyl upholstery is in outstanding condition — no tears, no cracks, and the cushions remain firm and not sagged. All original factory markings are intact and legible. The set has never been restored, preserving its authentic Cold War patina.

Rarity & significance: Produced under U.S. license in 1953, this set embodies the spirit of early Cold War collaboration between American military design and German industrial craftsmanship. The Tempelhof provenance adds historical weight — a museum-grade ensemble of authentic mid-century military modernism, representing both postwar reconstruction and functional design purity.