It is difficult to find a more basic and familiar object than a chair. However, its creation imposes a double responsibility, so designers are tirelessly looking for new possibilities for the object and points of contact with it without losing the main thing – functionality and convenience in daily use. The new selection contains the best chair models: from the iconic creations of Gio Ponti and Xavier Pochard, which have stood the test of time, to the avant-garde variations of modern designers.
D.235.1
Molteni&C, €1130
Along with other items, this chair was created by Gio Ponti for his project for the first Montecatini office building in Milan. Based on the original design of the 1930s and sketches preserved in the archives, Molteni&C has released a reissue of the iconic model in two variations – all in polished aluminum and with a leather seat. The laconic design of the item reflected Ponti’s idea that spending most of the time at work, a person should be in an attractive and suitable environment.
Cesca
Knoll, $935
Marcel Breuer’s signature design achievement in this model is the visual softening of the industrial tubular steel structure with a woven seat and backrest that evokes craftsmanship. The chair’s iconic silhouette, formed by a continuous flowing line, was made possible thanks to initial experiments with the more brutal and constructivist Wassily model. This is how the cantilever shape was born – one of the most copied concepts of the 20th century – with which Breuer was able to achieve even greater flexibility and comfort in use.
Masters
Kartell, €1148
In the design of the Masters model, Philippe Starck, together with Eugenie Quitle, rethought and combined the characteristic features of three iconic objects from different years of the last century – the Serie 7 chair by Arne Jacobsen, the Tulip Armchair by Eero Saarinen and the Eiffel chair by Charles Eames. Recognizable shapes are embodied in a laconic silhouette with a sculptural back: the chair-hybrid of three recognizable styles is light and practical. Made from recycled plastic and available in four metallic finishes.
Angle
Aesthetic Objects, from €152
The Angle chair reflects the philosophy of the St. Petersburg brand of conceptual furniture Aesthetic Objects, based on the synthesis of pure aesthetics and functionality. The brand’s catalog includes both a classic variation of the model made of birch plywood and a more budget-friendly one with a safe polymer coating, characterized by increased chemical resistance. In addition, the team uses an environmentally friendly material – polyvinyl chloride – to create the chair. Angle comes in neutral white, black, and gray tones, as well as brighter shades.
Tubie Chair
Keith Greenberg, €4364
American designer Kate Greenberg was inspired by the works of Eileen Gray. The unusual shape of the Tubie chair is a reference to the free and relaxed position of the body during a long family dinner or friendly conversation. The limited-edition model’s tubular base is made of powder-coated steel, while the seat and back are upholstered in striped Italian mohair and wool fabric.
Duality
David/Nicolas, price on request
The upholstered chair Dualita was created by the duo David/Nicolas exclusively for the Milan gallery Nilufar. Its simple metal design is lacquered black and complemented by copper details. The first items from the special collection were developed in 2014, and today it includes several variations of chairs – dining and bar, with or without armrests.
Via Veneto
De Castelli, price on request
The Via Veneto model from the Italian company De Castelli is the embodiment of the Roman “Dolce Vita” and the era of the 1960s in an enveloping symmetrical silhouette with precise proportions, creating a complete, elegant look. The tubular structure is made of stainless steel and supports the leather-upholstered round seat and curved metal backrest.
A Chair
Tolix, €320
Xavier Pochard’s A Chair has remained an icon of French design for almost a hundred years, and one of the most copied chairs of the 20th century. Each object is still handcrafted in the TOLIX workshops by experienced metalworkers. The original model is available in only three finishes, confirming its quality and perfect execution: glossy white, polished raw steel, and galvanized – the option originally conceived by the author.
Bodyform Side Chair
Peter Danko
The Bodyform Side Chair is a prime example of Peter Danko’s ability to use the most basic and humble materials in nature to create an attractive and artfully realized design. Following the philosophy of “less is more”, the designer uses it not only from an aesthetic point of view but also in the context of the resources involved in the production. The model is made of molded plywood with an epoxy coating and is in the permanent collection of MoMA in New York.
Askew
THER, price on request
In its practice, the Portuguese studio THER relies on the natural properties of materials, deep research into the origin of raw materials, and the value of manual labor. For example, the Askew chair, made from seaside pine, retains the original grain of the wood, which at one glance seems to transport you to the picturesque countryside. As with other objects from the collection, the final appearance of the chair is determined by the nature and characteristics of the material itself.
On the cover: Cesca chair, Knoll.
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