THE BARCELONA CHAIR

An ideal marriage of form and function.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a German architect who is widely considered an icon of design, sought to establish a simple yet modern style in his work. As the last director of the Bauhaus, a German school devoted to modern art, design, and architecture, he ultimately closed the school and emigrated to the U.S. when the Nazis rose to power and opposed the modern art movement.

That didn’t stop Mies from reinvention as he turned his attention to furniture. He, along with a frequent collaborator, created The Barcelona chair. The “scissor-shape design” design was based on a classic form dating back to 1500 B.C. It instantly became a sensation when shown at the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929.

The chair is an ideal marriage of form and function. A piece of art that’s not only timeless and beautiful, but comfortable as well. Made from a chrome or steel frame and leather cushions, the chair’s simplicity beguiles the effort and hand craftmanship that goes into the construction.

The chair became an interior designer’s darling when Kroll, an American design firm and furniture manufacturer, began, mass-producing it in 1947. In 1960, stainless-steel replaced chrome as the frame material. Ever since, other manufacturers have reinterpreted the chair’s design, often with modifications to color and material as well as adding complementary pieces.

Today, The Barcelona chair has become a sign of good taste as well as a signature piece in better homes the world over. When you consider this chair as an investment that you’ll have for the rest of your life, you’ll overlook the exorbitant cost.