Article by Jody Beck. Images courtesy of Cassina.
The LC1 Sling Chair was designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, and is currently produced by Cassina. For design aficionados, be it with furniture, architecture, or interiors, these are household names. For the rest of us, well, the learning curve is a bit steep. The point, however, is that there are deep roots to great design. The minds behind these iconic chairs laboured over the prototypes, with us in mind. Simplicity, form, and function all played a part in the process. Combine this engineering with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship and you have more than a piece of furniture – you have a working piece of history to cherish for a lifetime. For many of us, furnishing an entire home with iconic design is simply not realistic, but if we take time to understand the value in this furniture, it makes it that much sweeter when we do bring a piece home.
When it comes to the accessibility of owning a piece of history, Ross Taylor, owner of Gabriel Ross, has this to say: “Original design holds its value and in some cases can actually appreciate in value over time. That said, purchasing high quality original design is more of an investment in lifestyle. I have clients who have owned original Womb chairs, Egg chairs and Eames Lounge chairs in some cases for more than 50 years. They have not thought about the original expense of those pieces for a very long time.”
If you are passionate about mid-century modern furniture and the designers behind them, there are endless resources online to start the process of learning. Check out www.famousfurnituredesign.com for a crash course in some of the most recognizable names. If chairs are specifically your interest, you might care to seek out the book, 1000 Chairs. Talk to a local book store such as Bolen Books, Munro’s, or Tanner Books about ordering it in if they don’t have it in stock. It’s worth the wait. There is no greater education than experience, so make time to visit Gabriel Ross and see for yourself why these classic designs have stood the test of time.
