Chair of the Day
Today I’m heading back in time to the only item of furniture that ever fulfilled the Bauhaus’s dream of designing something “timeless”. It’s Thonet’s Chair Number 14, and it’s the first winner for Design Hole’s Bauhaus Award. It was put into production in the 1850′s and used innovative techniques of bent plywood. If you recall (and I’ll keep it short), the Bauhaus professors dreamed of designing items wherein form followed function. There was to be no frippery. Also important, these things should be designed for mass production and be inexpensive so that ordinary people could afford them. Certainly, the Bauhaus designers created beautiful and innovative pieces. However, they are all considered period pieces called “Modern.” They also failed miserably in the inexpensive, mass production department. So take a look at this chair. What era does it belong to? What period? The answer? None! It is timeless. It was also mass-produced and so inexpensive that every cafe could afford them. What do you think?
One Response to “Chair of the Day”
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Right! Right! Right! This is the real deal, but generally not given enough credit as a design classic. I nominate this for chair of the year…maybe you should have a poll?