Pair of Barcelona Chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, 1960s
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Pair of Barcelona Chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, 1960s
Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in collaboration with Lilly Reich, the Barcelona chair remains one of the most iconic pieces of 20th-century design. Originally created in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition in Barcelona, where the chair was intended as a modern throne for Spanish royalty. Its form, inspired by the “curule folding chairs “of Ancient Rome, showcases a striking elegance through clean lines and balanced proportions.
This early pair, produced by Knoll International in the 1960s, reflects the reconfigured model introduced in the 1950s 1950 from a two-part bolted frame to a single stainless steel frame as seen here. The polished flat steel structure supports thick saddle leather straps and handmade tufted leather cushions, The design exemplifies Mies van der Rohe’s Bauhaus principle of “less is more,” achieving luxury through precision.
The Barcelona chair is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is regarded as a symbol of modernist sophistication. Besides its historical significance, it also offers surprisingly high comfort through carefully considered angles and cushioning.
