1000 Chairs: In the 20th Century

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Bibliotheca Universalis brings together nearly 100 of our all-time favorite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia. At Books2Door, we believe that reading is a fundamental skill that every child should have to help improve their vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills. Nestled on a bookcase in my home, between Dickens, Homer and Keats, is a title that I have long cherished. Our team is made up of book lovers who are dedicated to sourcing and providing the best books for kids.

The ultimate reference book for anyone interested in knowing the what, where, who, why and how of the most iconic chairs from the last two centuries.They are all here: Thonet’s bentwood chairs and Hoffmann’s sitting-machines, Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chair and Ron Arad’s avant-garde armchairs. About the seriesBibliotheca Universalis - Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe! From the craftsmanship of Charles Rennie MacKintosh to the Eameses’ early fiberglass experiments and the faceted creations of Konstantin Grcic, this field guide to famous chairs is more than just a designers’ dream sourcebook—it offers a world of inspiration for rethinking even the most everyday of objects around us.

The particular curve of a backrest, or the twist of a leg, the angle of a seat or the color of the entire artifact; each element reflects the stylistic consciousness of an era.Chairs displayed on their own as pure form An overview of the 20th century More than any other piece of furniture, the chair has been subjected to the wildest dreams of the designers. The Fiells have lectured widely, guest taught courses, curated exhibitions, and consulted manufacturing companies, museums, salerooms, and major private collectors around the world. From Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto to Verner Panton to Eva Zeisel, from Art Nouveau to International Style, from Pop Art to Postmodernism, the phenomenon of the chair is so complex that it requires a reference work as comprehensive as this to do it full justice. Why I like it: I'll put it this way: after reading this book, every time I watch a TV show set anytime within the past 150 years, I'm now distracted by identifying the kind of chair, examining the details of its construction and style, and considering where that chair fits in the timeline of chair design paradigms. The particular curve of a backrest, or the twist of a leg, the angle of a seat or the color of the entire artifact all reflect the stylistic consciousness of each era.