These luxurious reproductions of German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's (1886–1969) Pavilion chair are direct descendants of the iconic seating he created for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929. Architectural in form, their angled seats provide a comfortable yet supportive position for the sitter. Mies van der Rohe granted exclusive manufacturing and sales rights for the design to Knoll, Inc., in 1953, and the “Barcelona” has remained in continuous manufacture ever since. Opulently crafted in Italy, these high-quality copies feature 12-mm solid-core stainless steel frames that have been hand-buffed to a mirror finish. Joints are all fully welded, sealed, and seamless. The cushions are attached to the frame by four snaps on the back and three belts, riveted to the frame, on the seat, and filled with high-resilience, high-density polyurethane foam. Their surfaces consist of 40 top-grain, premium white leather panels, each hand-selected, piped, tufted, and individually sewn by expert craftsmen. Buttons are roughly the size of a dime and made with the same leather. Offered as a set.

The Pavilion Chair was created to seat the Spanish King and Queen, Alfonso XIII and his consort Victoria Eugenia, during the opening ceremony of the German Pavilion. Known variously as The Pavilion, The Barcelona, and The Exposition chair, it was conceived in partnership with Lilly Reich (1885–1947) and reflects the pair's previous work on the interiors of the Tugenhadt Villa in Brno, in Czechoslovakia. As one of the most recognized objects of the past century, the Pavilion Chair radiates a simple elegance that embodies Mies van der Rohe's famous maxim, “less is more.” Indeed, in his 1981 book, From Bauhaus to Our House, novelist Tom Wolfe called it “the Platonic ideal of the chair.” It should be noted, however, that being designed to accommodate royalty, the Pavilion chair appears to flout a central aim of the architects and furniture designers of the Bauhaus: to create well-designed homes and impeccably manufactured furnishings for the general populace!

DETAILS

Designer – UNKOWN

Design Period/Year – 1980s

Maker – UNKOWN

Production Period/Year – 1980s

Origin – ITALY

Styles/Movements – BAUHAUS; MODERN

Materials – LEATHER, STAINLESS STEEL

Colors – WHITE

Condition – Excellent vintage condition. May show minor signs of previous ownership and use.

Dimensions – 30 ½" W × 29" D × 31" H

Seat Dimensions – 30 ½" W × 19" D × 18" H

Number of Seats – 1