Designer Marcel Breuer - Seating Series
When bicycle handlebars inspired a furniture design, namely a Bauuhuas classic, the Wassily chair.
Created in 1925, designer Marcel Breuer produced the very first tubular steel armchair.
After completing his preliminary courses at the Bauhaus school in Weimar, he trained at the Bauhaus furniture workshop. When he started to run the furniture workshop at the new Bauhaus in Dessa, Breuer purchased a bicycle, a steel-framed Adler.
Bikes in Germany's mid-20s were massed produced and made of stainless steel tubes. Breuer visualised taking the tubular steel handlebars and curving them into modern furniture pieces. His bicycle's robustness influenced him with its featherweight frame; he realised bending the steel frame could go further with no welding points so that it could be chromed in parts and put together.
He said, "I am as much interested in the smallest detail as in the whole structure."
Viewing the whole bicycle structure, Brueru mentally broke it down into steel furniture pieces. Why couldn't it be used as furniture? He thought.
Marcel Breuer furniture is an inspiration of shape and form.
The curving tubes of steel and leather slings create a seating statement of functionality and comfortability; widely considered one of the most popular and influential architects and furniture designers of the 20th century, Breuer's tubular steel furniture is a trend that will never go out of style.
Discover this and more Marcel Breuer chairs in this collection we have curated for you.