The Barcelona Chair was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1928 for the International Exposition of Barcelona. This beautiful creation had a widely spread success around the world, and it has been a selling success without interruption to this day. Part of the Barcelona Collection, the Barcelona Chair, is an object of desire for enthusiasts and collectors. Many movies and TV series reflect this enthusiasm by using its iconic figure in its sets, like the Barcelona Chair, or the Barcelona Daybed; that is the case for the acclaimed TV series Mad Men or the 007 franchise hit Casino Royale.
According to the most recent surveys, such as this published by Apartment Therapy, Mid Century Modern is, together with Coastal Living and Scandinavian, the most popular major forces in decor in America. The Barcelona Chair is one of the most demanded popular Items of Mid Century Modern.
When was the Barcelona Chair more Popular?
Now. All Mid Century Modern furniture items have very widespread popularity not only in America but in Europe, too. Since its creation in 1928, the items of the Barcelona Collection were produced almost without interruption. After being produced by several german houses since 1928, The Barcelona Chair has been produced without interruption since 1953. In America, the Barcelona Chair, and many of the items of the Barcelona Collection are the preferred furniture for homes and offices. According to recent surveys, states like New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, and so many others consider it as their favorite choice.+
What is an authentic Barcelona Chair?
According to the Design of its creator Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Barcelona Chair has an iconic “X” shape frame, constructed from a superior grade single-piece stainless steel block for ultimate durability, stronger support, and resistance. This special frame supports the Chair squared cushions using High-Density Foam, and each cushion surface features individually cut and sewn leather panels for optimum detailing.
Each cushion foam of the Barcelona Chair is wrapped in Synthetic Silk underneath the leather upholstery to allow airflow. This gives you a great sensation of comfort. And every cushion foam is wrapped in Synthetic Silk underneath the leather upholstery to allow airflow. This gives you that particular feeling of comfort and relaxation. Is Heavy Grade Leather saddle straps color-match the upholstery; and both sides of the leather straps are finished for extra strength and longevity.
In its original presentation in Barcelona, the upholstery of the chair was made of pigskin, a material very used in that period. Later it was replaced by cowhide leather, and now mostly by aniline leather.
The Barcelona Collection and the Barcelona Chair
Often called the “Van der Rohe Collection” too, the Barcelona Collection consolidates all the pieces of furniture made by the German designer in the International Exposition of Barcelona in 1928. It’s fair to say that this collection was a team effort, where the German designer Lilly Roche had a great part. In the Barcelona Collection, besides the chair, there is a Loveseat, a Sofa, a Bench (three models), an Ottoman, and a Table. But the Barcelona Chair is the central piece of the group, and the rest of the elements are elicited from the chair, in its forms, shapes, and overall design.
The Barcelona Collection can be considered as a whole set up of decor or individually. As a whole set up, you can decorate a complete living room, using recurring to one Barcelona Chair, one Barcelona Loveseat, one Barcelona Sofa, the Barcelona Ottoman, and a Barcelona Table. Of course, the decor combination possibilities in one room are endless, and endless are the possible combinations of the Barcelona Collection in a decor.
But the Barcelona Chair is a worthy piece by itself, and it can be used as a single unit. The Barcelona Chair is perfect as an “Accent Chair”. This is one single, unique chair that drives your attention in the room, and became one of the focal points.
The Barcelona Chair and the Mid Century Modern Style
The Barcelona Chair and the Barcelona Collection are frequently associated with Mid Century Modern. Mid Century Modern is a stylistic category given to the modernist renovation in Architecture and decor that started at the end of the 1920s and reached its creative peak in the 1950s.
Although this category was coined in the middle of the 1980s, it stuck easily and all that period is called this way since then. The Barcelona Chair is the quintessential icon of the Mid Century Modern stylistic movement. It has its essential design principles.
The key principle designs behind the Barcelona Chair.
Minimalist
The Barcelona Chair has clean-cut, sleek shapes. There are no unnecessary details, and its design attends completely at its function. A very comfortable cushion that is supported by an original, resistant, and beautiful “X” frame.
Experimental materials
Today this could be seen as a very common, regular thing, but at its time, the mix of materials used to built the Barcelona Chair was highly experimental. In the 1920s, furniture was still highly associated with wood, and the use of stainless steel, fiber, and different kind of upholstery wasn’t common. In Mid Century Modern, the experimental use of materials allows to achieve better design objects, sustainable to be produced at mass scale.
Functionality over design
This means that everything in the product has to do with its function, with minimal ornamentation. Before Modernism, and basically in Architecture, the ornamentation was the priority, and all the elements of the Design are contingent. With its elegant, sleeker design, the Barcelona Chair met this rule without losing any piece of Beauty.
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