We’ve rounded up some of the most iconic armchairs in history. These timeless pieces have spawned countless imitations and inspired a whole new generation of furniture designers. See if you recognise any of these classic designs.
‘30s
The 1930s was a difficult time for mankind as it was weighed down by The Great Depression, as well the social and political upheavals that led to World War II. Experimenting with metal in furniture design was a fledgling trend but it piqued Marcel Breuer’s interest, while Finnish designer Alvar Aalto dove into the tensile qualities of wood.
Furniture designed in this decade eschewed detailing and ornamentation but focused on minimalist forms.
Artek Armchair 400 by Alvar Aato (1936)
Aalto’s love for Finnish birch led him to design chairs made from this beautiful wood.
Designed in 1936 for Artek, the Armchair 400’s ingenious engineered wood with cantilevered base was deployed with upholstered seat and backrest for added comfort.
Available at Xtra and P5.
www.xtra.com.sg / www.p5.com.sg
Vitra Cite by Jean Prouvé (1930)
Jean Prouvé was a dreamer, builder and designer, and his furniture DNA is all about crisp and minimal chairs, tables and complements. The Cite armchair still looks resoundingly modern even in its 84th year of production. You’ll enjoy the sloped back while your arms rest on the thick natural saddle leather straps to make you feel at ease. Its sturdy frame is made from sheet steel and offers a striking profile when viewed from the side. Available at Space Asia Hub.
Cassina Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1935)
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld may not be a household name, but design purists respect his work as a furniture designer and architect. He was one of the principal members of De Stijl, the Dutch artistic movement founded in 1917. The Utrecht is an iconic chair because of its striking angular form. Its leg and armrest are conceived from a singular structure and its seat and backrest form an angle that supports the spine. Available at Dream.
‘40s
The World War took its toll on humanity as domestic production of everyday items came to a halt and material shortages were felt worldwide. Product designers were forced to be dynamic, adaptive and resourceful.
At the forefront of furniture innovation were American husband-and-wife duo Charles and Ray Eames who championed the technique of moulding plywood in their designs.
Knoll Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen (1948)
At the request of Florence Knoll to create an armchair “that was like a basket full of pillows; something I could really curl up in”, Finnish designer Eero Saarinen created this iconic chair.
Saarinen wanted to achieve comfort through the shape of the chair’s shell, rather than the depth of its cushioning.
Available at Dream, www.dream.com.sg
PP Mobler PP550 Peacock Chair by Hans J. Wegner (1947)
There’s no doubt that this chair gets its name from its characteristic back that looks like a peacock. Designed by Hans J. Wegner, it was created as a tribute to the historical Windsor chair, albeit with a whimsical interpretation. Design aficionados love its sweeping back, comprising of sticks that create a symmetrical and ergonomic appearance. Unique to this chair are the flat part of the sticks, positioned where the shoulder blades meet the chair’s back. Available at Space Asia Hub.
Herman Miller LCW by Charles & Ray Eames (1945)
Made of moulded and bent birch-faced plywood, the LCW (lounge chair wood) was a milestone in the furniture industry. Design couple Charles and Ray Eames experimented with glue and wood to create this arresting chair and later on the DCW (Dining Chair Wood). The LCW’s lightweight, compact form and affordability bode well with cost-conscious families across America and set the Eameses as a design force to be reckoned with. Available at Xtra.
‘50s
The post-war years were brighter times for designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Gio Ponti and the Castiglioni brothers, simply because they harnessed war-time advances in defence technology to develop new furniture designs for the fast-expanding, post-war generation.
The armchairs developed were imbued with a warmer, more organic aesthetic that toyed with earthy colours and natural materials such as wood.
Fritz Hansen Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen (1958)
The Egg chair was conceived by Arne Jacobsen for the Radisson SAS hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. The hotel was also designed by Jacobsen, right down to the minutiae such as door handles and cutlery.
The core of the upholstery offers strong inner foam that provides astounding comfort. To strive for the perfect egg shape, Jacobsen used clay to create the likeness of an egg in his home’s garage.
Available at Space Asia Hub, www.spacefurniture.com.sg
Herman Miller Eames Lounger and Ottoman by Charles & Ray Eames (1956)
The iconic Eames club chair No. 670 (also called the Eames Lounger and Ottoman) is now the most desired armchair by design purists. The plywood shells, bent two-dimensionally for the shoulders, back, seat and ottoman were first veneered with rosewood. Later iterations offered walnut as an alternative. The leather upholstery was previously filled with goosefeather but today, has been replaced by foam. Today, it is a beloved classic that is viewed as a status symbol. Available at Xtra.
60’s
The 1960s spurred creativity and experimentation with a new breed of designers who desired vivid colours, sinuous shapes and a love for plastic. The exuberant, high-energy ‘60s led to the development and design of many plastic stacking chairs that Danish designer Verner Panton and Italian Joe Colombo, raced to produce for the masses.
B&B Italia Up5 Armchair by Gaetano Pesce (1969)
If anyone had the fervour and penchant for blurring the lines between art and design then Italian designer and artist Gaetano Pesce would be the perfect contender. Inspired by the voluminous shape of a woman’s bosom, the UP5 armchair offers that spitting image, although, artistic in form. The round pouf with adjoining cord represents the traditional ball and shackle of a prisoner. While previous versions were made inflatable, the current version offers solid moulded foam. Available at Space Asia Hub.
Artifort Ribbon Chair by Pierre Paulin (1966)
One of the most striking posthumous works of feted French furniture designer Pierre Paulin is the Ribbon armchair he designed for Artifort in 1969. Paulin was inspired by the billowy motion of the ribbon when unreeled from its spool. The end result is a sculptural chair that epitomises the adage “poetry in motion”. The seat, armrest and backrest are made from one piece of well-engineered upholstery supported by a sinuous metal frame that forms the core. Manufactured in the Netherlands by Artifort, this Gallic creation remains a classic in the history of modern furniture design. Available at Xtra.
Knoll Platner Chair by Warren Platner (1966)
American architect and interior designer Warren Platner has an affinity for wire furniture. His love for “decorative, gentle and graceful” wire shapes is realised in the Platner chair. It’s made up of hundreds of welded, curved nickel-plated steel rods that form circular frames that simultaneously serve as structure and ornament. Its graceful shape from the base up supports the person’s back and envelops him when sitting on it. Available at Dream.
By Joseph Lim
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