Retro furniture spanning from the 50’s to current day include many names who revolutionized; from modern designs like steel tubular furniture, to G-plan and other innovations. Classics like Bauhaus furniture, have left an indelible impression and are still much adored. The style is back and it’s the rage like never before. But before we purchase some classic retro furniture, let us learn a bit about the history behind it. The following is a list of both unsung and recognized heroes, who have shaped the story of retro modern classics:
Eileen Gray: An unsung name, Eileen Gray was a designer and architect who won acclaim quite later in her life. Her designs were modern and had an individualistic mark that inspired both modernists and the Art Deco school. Her collaboration with architect and critic Jean Badovici led to the introduction of tubular steel furniture, rugs and lighting for her studio and Galerie Jean Désert.
Joseph Hoffman: An Austrian architect and town planner, he was popularly known as “Quadrilateral Hoffmann” due to his passion for geometric forms. His armchairs and sofas in geometric patterns were a rage with modern classic designers and craftsmen. Hoffman`s modern classic work combined the rationalism of Wagner with the geometrical, rectilinear style of decoration influenced by Charles R. Mackintosh.
Le Corbusier : Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, or more popularly known as Le Corbusier (October 6, 1887 – August 27, 1965), was a Swiss-born architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter. Also recognized for his visionary architecture – what now is called Modern Architecture – Le Corbusier started his venture on furniture design in 1928 after inviting the architect, Charlotte Perriand, to join his studio.
Charles Ray Eames: Charles Eames (1907-1978) and his wife started the modern classics trend in the 20th century with their great designs and child-development toys and puzzles. They were a successful couple whose work designs like seating furniture in mesh, metal legged chairs, and other revolutionary designs were much admired worldwide.
George Nelson: George Nelson was a visionary architect and designer with rare talent. His work includes the Marshmallow sofa, the Nelson platform bench and the first L-shaped desk, a forerunner to the present-day modern workstation. He also designed graphic wall clocks, bubble lamps made of self-webbing plastic and developed forward-looking, occasionally futuristic concepts.
Harry Bartoia: A Italian designer, Harry Bertoia envisioned futuristic designs that inspire people to this day. His patented Diamond chair for Knoll in 1952 is an unusually beautiful piece of furniture. The unique quality about the chair was its robustness within a light and almost petite frame, making it a huge commercial success. With the success of Diamond chair, the world was introduced to a new material, wire mesh, and it was a great icon of modern design.
Marcel Breuer: Marcel Breuer is famous even today for his modern classic designs better known as the Breuer Chairs. Well acclaimed for his simplistic designs combined with neat lines make these chairs exceptionally popular. The range of Breuer chairs include the: Marcel Breuer Cesca Arm Chair, Breuer Wassily Chair, Marcel Breuer Cesca Chair, etc. Besides Breuer Chairs, the Breuer label is also known for Marcel Breuer Bookshelves.
Mies Van Der Rohe: A popular architect of his times, Mies Van Der Rohe built one of his most famous buildings, the German Pavilion at the International Exposition in Barcelona, for which he also created a chair called the Barcelona Chair. He was considered a visionary architect whose work was much acclaimed worldwide.
Retro-design furniture from the fifties onwards, has been influenced by many designers from the USA and Europe; its popularity greatly impacting furniture production throughout the world. There are many options in terms of various retro themes and of course materials such as: mesh, steel or leather. Experimentation can be exciting, with a variety of possible themes, merging details like color, materials, and finish; there are many beautiful options that manufacturers have to offer. Retro is back in a the big way and you can be sure that it will be in vogue. How you team it up with your modern furniture can be a thrillingly creative venture.