Thus, furniture is not merely a utilitarian object but also a symbol of culture and civilization. It transcends functionality to become an artistic installation, capable of beautifying environments, showcasing style, and even altering the ambiance of daily life and mood.
Among them, the chair, as the most fundamental piece of home furniture, is ordinary yet extraordinary. It has been adored and repeatedly designed by countless masters. Chairs rich in cultural value also signify important shifts in design styles and technological advancements.
Besides famous chairs like the Eames Lounge Chair and the Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge, smaller and more exquisite dining and leisure chairs are easier to integrate into everyday life and environments.
This issue specially selects the most renowned chairs from a century of design history. By appreciating these classic designs, we reflect on a century of design history and feel the fusion of life and art.
Chairs not only tell a story but also encapsulate the taste of an era.
NO.01
Rood Blauwe Stole
Designer: Gerrit Rietveld, 1918
In the early 20th century, the Dutch De Stijl (Neoplasticism) movement was all the rage. It pursued abstraction and simplification in art, reducing elements to planes, straight lines, and rectangles, and colors to primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and black, white, and gray. Piet Mondrian’s paintings are typical of this style.
The De Stijl movement revered abstraction, turning product design into a combination of primary colors and geometric shapes. The most typical examples are the “Red and Blue Chair” and the “Schröder House.”
The Red and Blue Chair is a milestone in the exploration of modernist forms, extending De Stijl’s two-dimensional art into three-dimensional space. It is permanently housed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
NO.02
Wassily Chair
Designer: Marcel Breuer, 1925
Modernist design master Marcel Breuer, a pioneer in tubular steel furniture design, named this chair after Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. Unlike traditional enclosed seats, its design inspiration came from the handlebars of an Adler bicycle. The seat, backrest, and armrests are composed of planes, with bent tubular steel creating a minimalist streamlined form.
The Wassily Chair represents the unity of functionality and modern minimalist forms, pioneering the use of new materials and techniques.
NO.03
Barcelona Chair
Designer: Mies van der Rohe, 1929
Designed by the German design master Mies van der Rohe, the Barcelona Chair epitomizes his famous maxim “Less is more.” Inspired by the Roman curule chair, it was initially created for the German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition to welcome the Spanish royal family.
This armless chair features a curved stainless steel frame supporting handcrafted leather cushions, elegant in appearance and practical in function, making it a timeless classic of modern design.
NO.04
Tolix Chair
Designer: Xavier Pauchard, 1934
In 1934, French galvanization pioneer Xavier Pauchard successfully applied galvanizing techniques to metal furniture, producing the first Tolix Chair, a representative of French industrial style. Durable and stylish, it became a staple in French cafes and is lauded as a versatile “chair of all chairs” by the fashion industry.
NO.05
Wishbone Chair
Designer: Hans J. Wegner, 1949
Hans J. Wegner, one of the greatest furniture designers of the 20th century, is known for showcasing the soul of furniture through simple and practical designs. The Wishbone Chair, inspired by Chinese Ming Dynasty armchairs, features a distinctive Y-shaped structure connecting the backrest and arms, made using steam-bent techniques. It is elegant, understated, yet comfortable.
NO.06
The Chair
Designer: Hans Wegner, 1949
Wegner’s designs often feature smooth curves that create an inviting feel. “The Chair” embodies this with its harmonious form, flowing lines, and simple elegance, providing exceptional comfort. In the first televised U.S. presidential debate in 1960, Kennedy sat in “The Chair,” which has been dubbed “the world’s most perfect chair” by Interiors magazine.
NO.07
Diamond Chair
Designer: Harry Bertoia, 1952
The Diamond Chair, designed by sculptor Harry Bertoia, is a quintessential example of modern minimalist furniture. Constructed from welded metal, it is light, elegant, and sculptural, integrating perfectly with its surroundings like a decorative space artwork. It is a favorite among collectors and frequently appears in classic films.
NO.08
Ant Chair
Designer: Arne Jacobsen, 1952
The Ant Chair, designed by Danish master Arne Jacobsen, is named for its resemblance to an ant’s head. Initially a three-legged design, it was modified to four legs for stability. Pioneering the use of molded plywood, the chair minimized material waste and production costs, promoting the global adoption of this technique. The Ant Chair is praised as the “perfect wife” of furniture due to its playful yet functional design.
NO.09
Butterfly Stool
Designer: Sori Yanagi, 1956
Japanese industrial design master Sori Yanagi’s Butterfly Stool symbolizes the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures and ideologies. Its unique construction features two curved plywood pieces connected symmetrically by a central axis, resembling a butterfly in flight. Combining modern design’s functionalism with traditional Japanese craftsmanship, the stool is permanently housed in MoMA and the Louvre.
NO.10
Tulip Side Chair
Designer: Eero Saarinen, 1956
20th-century design genius Eero Saarinen created the Tulip Chair to solve the problem of unsightly chair legs. With a single-leg support and a drop-like base, the chair is elegant and refined. Available in various sizes, colors, and materials, the Tulip Chair remains an iconic piece in furniture design history.
NO.11
Eames Plastic Chair
Designer: Charles & Ray Eames, 1956
Designed by the influential Eames couple, the Eames Plastic Chair drew inspiration from the Eiffel Tower. Its fiberglass-reinforced plastic shell with various base options blends form and function. The innovative materials and techniques used in its production make it the world’s first mass-produced single chair, and it is permanently exhibited at MoMA.
NO.12
Egg Chair & Swan Chair
Designer: Arne Jacobsen, 1956
In 1958, Danish designer Arne Jacobsen created the Egg and Swan Chairs for Copenhagen’s Royal Hotel. These pieces combine freeform shapes with Nordic design traditions, offering unique sculptural forms and exceptional comfort. These chairs remain symbols of stylish living and exceptional spatial aesthetics.
NO.13
Panton Chair
Designer: Verner Panton, 1960
20th-century imaginative designer Verner Panton experimented with colors and materials, resulting in the iconic Panton Chair. Utilizing plastic’s elasticity and extensibility, he created the first single-piece molded plastic cantilever chair, marking a revolutionary step in chair design. Its graceful curves earned it the title of “the world’s sexiest chair.”
NO.14
Three-Legged Shell Chair
Designer: Hans Wegner, 1963
Hans Wegner’s Shell Chair, also known as the “smile chair” due to its curved seat resembling a warm smile, is another classic. Its flowing lines and soft shapes provide an inviting appearance and exceptional comfort.
NO.15
Platner Lounge Chair
Designer: Eero Aarnio, 1966
Combining decorative, soft, and beautiful shapes with modern design, this chair features bent metal wires welded to circular and arc frames, creating the iconic Platner Lounge Chair.
NO.16
Ball Chair & Bubble Chair
Designer: Eero Aarnio, 1968
The Ball Chair, designed by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio, is made of fiberglass, resembling a spacecraft. It offers a quiet and comfortable environment, allowing one to enjoy peace while observing the surroundings. Later, Aarnio created the transparent Bubble Chair using acrylic, suspended by a stainless steel chain, like a floating bubble, providing a light and airy feel.
NO.17
Ghost Chair
Designer: Philippe Starck, 1970
Designed by French designer Philippe Starck, the Ghost Chair draws inspiration from Baroque chairs from the Louis XV period. Made from transparent polycarbonate, it gives an illusion of evanescence, blending seamlessly with any environment. This chair led a “transparent revolution” in early 21st-century interior design.
NO.18
Ghost Glass Chair
Designer: Cini Boeri, 1987
Also named “Ghost,” this glass chair by Italian designer Cini Boeri is crafted from a single piece of 12mm thick crystal glass, softened and bent to form armrests. The resulting chair is a stunning piece of art, symbolizing endless possibilities in furniture design.
NO.19
Tom Vac Chair
Designer: Ron Arad, 1999
20th-century designer Ron Arad combines innovative materials and concepts, creating the Tom Vac Chair initially from aluminum for the Milan Furniture Fair. Its distinctive ripple design and multi-functional nature make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
NO.20
Chair One
Designer: Konstantin Grcic, 2003
German designer Konstantin Grcic’s Chair One is inspired by the polyhedral surface of a soccer ball