TIMELESS – Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer

At the youthful age of 24, during his remarkable tenure at the Bauhaus school, Marcel Breuer set about creating a piece of furniture that would fundamentally alter our understanding of design – the Wassily Chair. Designed in 1925, this chair wasn’t just a seating object; it was a revolutionary expression of form following function and a direct reflection of the ideals Breuer was exposed to at the Bauhaus.

Breuer, greatly inspired by the bent tubular steel of his bicycle’s handlebars, envisioned furniture that was functional, simple and made from honest materials. This became the groundwork for the Wassily Chair, known initially as Model B3 based on the manufacturer’s cataloguing system. This chair, designed with sleek steel and unadorned leather or fabric, showcased a radical departure from traditional chair design.

One fascinating aspect of this piece is how it got its nickname, “Wassily.” While the chair didn’t originally bear this title, an Italian manufacturer who was reproducing the chair learned of the great admiration Wassily Kandinsky, a contemporary of Breuer’s at the Bauhaus, held for this design. As a nod to the celebrated painter’s enthusiasm, the chair was informally renamed the “Wassily Chair.”

The design is timeless, its suspended seat, back, and arms giving an illusion of floating in space. This lightweight, open form inspired a whole new genre of seating, leaving its mark on the course of furniture design. Breuer was ahead of his time, envisaging a piece of furniture that was not only a work of art but also accessible – an embodiment of the Bauhaus philosophy of “art into industry.”

Today, the Wassily Chair is not just a chair but an icon of modern design, admired for its innovative use of materials and its ability to adapt to different spaces. Almost a century later, its impact continues to resonate, providing enduring inspiration for contemporary designers. Breuer’s design, a testament to the power of innovation and the spirit of the Bauhaus, remains a touchstone of 20th-century design and a remarkable contribution to the landscape of modernist furniture.

Many thanks to Knoll for the images provided here.

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