The Barcelona Chair: Decade to Decade

Let's take a look at the evolution of the Barcelona Chair, decade to decade, from its creation and first releases, until its current furor and worldwide popularity.

Time flies. There are lot of things that coming up and down, but some others remains the same. Its what happens with the Barcelona Collection and its main piece, the Barcelona Chair; an achievement of Interior Design that was created in 1929.

What is the Barcelona Collection and the Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona Collection is a line of furniture representative of Mid Century Modern Style. It was created in 1929 for the International Exposition of Barcelona, and it was manufactured first in Germany, and after a brief interruption, in America to this day, conquering new markets and users from all over the world. The rise of the Barcelona Collection made it so popular, that now there is a vibrant market of replicas all around America and Europe. Integrated by several items, the Barcelona Chair and its stunning "X" frame set the tone for the rest of items, including the Barcelona Sofa, the Barcelona Loveseat, the Barcelona Daybed and the Barcelona Bench.

Now let's see the evolution of the Barcelona Chair, by decades.

1920-1950: Design and first attempts of manufacture

During this period, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lily Reich, creators of the Barcelona Collection, released it in 1929 attend to the International Exposition of Barcelona in 1929, as Director and Artistic Coordinator of the German Pavilion. The exposition resulted in a complete success for van der Rohe, who was in charge of two more Pavilions, and it allowed to display its genius for all kind of critics and businessman. As a result of the International Expo, Mies had the opportunity to make several production attempts in its native Germany. Van der Rohe Left Germany in 1937 frustrated due to the Nazi regime, which didn't allowed him to manufacture. At that period, the Barcelona Chair "X" frame was bolded together and its upholstery was from pigskin.

1950 - 1970: The Golden Age of Mid Century Modern

There were the decades of classic Mid Century Modern style, even though at that time they wasn't call it this way. Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, were some of the figures that stood out at the time with different classic pieces, among the Barcelona Chair. In 1953 the house Knoll take in America the manufacturing of the Barcelona Chair, and since then is produced without interruptions, with a steady sales success. By that time the Barcelona Chair is redesigned, to create a single seamless frame made of stainless steel. It upholstery is of cowhide since then.

1970 - 1990 The hibernation years

After of the heyday of the 1960s, a new decade arrived, and new ways of expression were needed. Mid Century Modern and Modernism itself fade for several years, and its main pieces were subject of study, with the interest of academics and scholars, mainly. In 1984, a book called: "Mid Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s", by Cara Greenberg, an art Author, became a great sales success and it would influence generations of art and architecture enthusiasts all over the world.

1990 - Today: A worldwide success

Since middle of the 1990s, Mid Century Modern, and the Barcelona Chair experienced a sustained revival that it has lasted till the present time. The Barcelona Chair is a worldwide icon, that is praised all over about its great design and beauty, becoming a standard of elegance. Praised as the "Platonic archetype of a Chair" by Tom Wolfe, and considered as one of the most influential designs of the XXth Century, it looks like the best years of the Barcelona Chair are still to come.

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