Take a seat. Ten iconic chairs you should know. I’m quite sure most of them you have seen before. Even when they are designed fifty or hundred years ago, or even centuries ago they are still beautiful and fit in our homes. Some of them are even trendy. I’m sure, when you will see the year they where designed, you will be surprised that some seem to be very modern but are already that old.
interior image via This is Glamorous - Louis XVI armchair via AD
Louis XVI armchair 1780
The chair was made by François II Foliot after a model by Jacques Gondoin. The sculpture are done by either Pierre-Edmé Bable or Toussaint Foliot.
Louis XVI was the last monarch from France, till the revolution in 1789. Typical for the chairs from the Louis XVI period are the carved, fluted legs. Round shapes, often curved for more comfort. The furniture form Louis XVI is much simpler compared to the Baroque furniture from Louis XIV or the Regence furniture from Louis XV. It is interesting to see how the evolution of the economical situation in France, at that time, influenced the furniture design.
The armchair here above was designed for Mari-Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI. The armchair was for one of Marie Antoinette’s private retreats, The Pavillon Belvedere at Petit Trianon.
The fabric here is a jacquard weave. You have to take care with this type of fabrics as they are, in general, not suited for upholstery. When you choose your fabric for upholstery you should check the martindale, this is a rub test. A jacquard fabric has often not more than 12.000 to 15.000 martindale and you should have minimum of 20.000 martindale to enjoy for a longer time the fabric of your chair or sofa.
This type of armchair fits of course an interior in a French classical style but it makes a good match in a more contemporary setting as an accent piece.
interior image via Anthology Interiors - Michael Thonet Era chair
Era Chair 1859 better know as Thonet Chair
The Thonet chair by Michael Thonet, a German cabinet maker, has been continuous been produced for more than 150 year. Thonet dreamt about designing a chair that could be mass-produced and sold at affordable prices. The chair is defined by its organic shape, round seat and bentwood back. It is lightweight and surprisingly strong and durable. The chair is produced in strong types of wood, the graceful shapes are achieved through the use of steam. It was the first piece of furniture designed to be shipped in parts, this to save space for transportation.
Le Corbusier was a big fan of this chair.
When visiting a bistro in Paris there will be a big chance you will see this chair, it is the perfect chair for commercial settings. It can be the perfect match if you are looking for a chair around your kitchen table.
interior image via John Desmond - Red - Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld
Red and Blue Chair 1917
The first design dates back from 1917 when Gerrit Rietveld reduced the traditional armchair to 13 square-profiled battens, two armrests with a rectangular profile, and two rectangular panels that form the seat and the back rest. His focus was on functionality. The design we see here above dates from around 1923, he removed the side panels and added the typical colors red, bleu, yellow and black. he has published previously comparable colored interiors. Rietveld was active at De Stijl in that period.
This is a design piece that fits a modern interior, inspired by Bauhaus. Or you can have it as a collectors item in a more eclectic interior.
interior image via Sampleboard- Egg Chair Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Egg chair 1958
Designed by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The Egg chair is one of the triumphs of his legendary career. It is not just an iconic chair, it a Scandinavian icon.
Jacobson sculpted the chair in his garage with wire and plaster to create the perfect shape. The chair provides comfort in the form of a cocoon-shaped seat. The Egg chair is manufactured by Fritz Hansen. They were purposely made to be lightweight, allowing the hotel’s staff to move them around easily. Jacobson didn’t just designed the chairs for the hotel, he was responsible for every last detail of the historic accommodation; from the building and the furnishing to the textiles and cutlery.
The Egg chair is a well-recognized example of mid-century modern design. The chair has and still is the inspiration for other design pieces.
The Egg armchair fits of course in a mid-century interior but you will find it as well in a modern and minimalist home.
interior image via Desire to Inspire - Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio
Ball Chair 1966
Finnish designer Eero Aarnio became international recognized as a designer after presenting the Ball Chair at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966. The chair was designed in 1963. The futuristic shape was a hit in the mid 1960s.
The Ball Chair can be found in collections of museums around the word. It has been used in movies, videos and fashion magazines. The Ball chair is made from fiberglass and upholstered with quality fabrics. The 60’s was the time of plastic, polyester, and other easy to maintain materials. The travel to the moon also inspired the fashion and interior world
The Ball Chair can fit a modern and colorful home.
Barcelona Chair 1929
German-American architect Mies van der Rohe was asked to design the German pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. The chairs he designed for the pavilion got the name related to the exhibition. Mies van der Rohe is one of the pioneers of modern architecture. He was the last director of the Bauhaus, a ground-breaking school of modernist art, design and architecture. The school was famous for its approach to design. The emphasis was on function and they wanted to unify individual artistic visions with the principles of mass production. The Barcelona Chair is produced by Knoll in chrome and leather.
The Barcelona chair was a perfect match with the minimalist interiors and can can be find now in all types of contemporary homes.
Lounge Chair 1956
The comment ‘Why don't we make an updated version of the old English club chair?' made Charles Eames start designing the Lounge Chair. The process took a several years. The goal was to combine ultimate comfort with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. It is one of the most famous designs by Charles and Ray Eames. It is not only a design icon, it became a classic in the history of modern furniture. Average human height has increased with 10 cm since the 50s of last century. Vitra developed a larger version so that taller people can also enjoy the comfort of this Lounge Chair. They still use the same manufacturing methods since the 1950s.
The Lounge chair can fit a lot of different styles, from modern to industrial, from minimalist to electic.
interior image via Apartment Therapy - Diamond Lounge Chair by Harry Bertoia Knoll
Diamond Lounge Chair 1952
Italian born, American designer was designing furniture for Florence Knoll and her husband. He met Florence Knoll while studying at the Cranbook Academy. His goal was to design furniture where art meets function. The chair was an success, he received a payment from Knoll that gave him the opportunity to devote himself exclusively to sculpture.
The seat and base are constructed of welded steel rods.
If you look at the chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture,” Bertoia said. “Space passes through them.”
The Bertoia Side Chair us a icon of mid-century modern design and fits in minimalist as well as contemporary interior. I could even see it in a bohemian interior combined with a more classical table.
interior image via Orac Decor - Ectetera chair by Jan Ekselius Artilleriet
Ectetera Chair 1970
This chair designed by Jan Ekselius represents very well the design of the 70s. He designed this chair during his studies at the Royal College of Art in London. It has a unique design and is extremely comfortable. It is a real 70s design icon. The chair is made with bent steel and naturally elastic fabric. A few years ago they relaunched the production.
The perfect choice for a modern or eclectic interior.
interior image via Instagram - Wiggle Side Chiar by Frank Gehry Vitra
Wiggle Side Chair 1972
In 1969 Gehry was asked to give Robert Irwin’s studio a quick makeover for a meeting with artist and scientist from NASA. The shoestring budget made Gehry come up with the seating from cardboard, a material he had laying around for making models.
He experimented with scrap cardboard and this resulted in a collection of paper furniture. The WiggleSide Chair is part of Frank Gehry’s series” Easy Edges” The chair is not only very comfortable, it is also strong and robust. It doesn’t need finishing and as a noice-canceling quality.
The side chair is a beautiful design piece that fits different styles.
What makes a chair iconic?
recognizable
use or study of the material
re-thinking the design of a chair
timeless even that when it reflects a certain period or style
I got inspired by this article. I’ve chooses ten iconic chairs, there are more. Take a look and discover more.
Enjoy summer.