See more objects with the tag seating, industrial design, exposition, International Style.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1929

  • Work on this object began.

2017

2024

  • You found it!

Chair, Barcelona (Model MR 90) Chair

This is a chair. It was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It is dated Designed 1929, manufactured 1930. Its medium is chromed steel and leather.

For the German pavilion at the Barcelona world exposition in 1929, architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed two chairs for Spain’s king and queen to sit upon based on ancient Greek curule chairs, which were a symbol of power. This example dates from 1930 and features hand finishing and cushions thickly tufted with horsehair.

It is credited Lent by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Museum purchase funded by J. Brian and Varina Eby, by exchange, 97.354.

  • Chair
  • ash plywood, chromed steel, original leather.
  • Lent by Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Decorative Arts Council Fund,....
  • 36.2016.2
  • Barcelona Chair
  • hand-forged steel, hemp.
  • Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
  • 2000-12-1-a,b

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Its dimensions are

L x W x D: 73 × 74 × 76 cm (28 3/4 × 29 1/8 × 29 15/16 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/907214059/ |title=Chair, Barcelona (Model MR 90) Chair |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=16 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>