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Thinking Man's Chair 2021 Edition

In celebration of twentytwentyone's 25th anniversary, Jasper Morrison and Giulio Cappelini have collaborated with twentytwentyone to produce a re-release of the iconic Thinking Man's Chair. Available in a run of just 25 chairs, it features an exclusive hot-dip zinc-galvanised finish. 

Thinking Man's Chair 2021 Edition

Working with Jasper Morrison and Giulio Cappellini, we have produced a worldwide exclusive edition of the iconic Thinking Man's Chair in a hot-dip zinc-galvanised finish to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

Upon opening in 1996, Jasper Morrison was one of the first young designers we displayed in our Upper Street shop. In turn, we were one of just a handful of retailers offering Cappellini productions. Following our twenty-five year relationship with both Jasper Morrison and Giulio Cappellini, it felt only appropriate to celebrate our anniversary with the launch of an exclusive version of Morrison's seminal Thinking Man's Chair.

Having maintained a relationship with Jasper Morrison from the moment of opening, we have showcased and sold a vast range of Morrison designs; beginning with early landmarks such as Three Green Bottles and later, celebrated seating collections including Elan, Low Pad and Tate. These, alongside the original Thinking Man’s Chair, became landmark designs for Jasper Morrison.

First designed in 1988, and produced by Italian furniture brand Cappellini in 1989, the Thinking Man’s Chair was Jasper Morrison’s first commercial commission and the first design in a history of collaboration between Morrison and Cappellini - now spanning over three decades. The concept was the result of Morrison’s attempt to create a chair formed entirely from structural elements, and the design has remained unchanged between prototype and production.

Made from serpentine curves of tubular steel for the frame, with flat strip steel for support and two metal discs on the arms to serve as drinks holders, the chair recognisably belongs to the modernist design heritage, whilst also representing a completely new form – one which is still unique today. An instant icon on its first release, the chair is now part of the V&A’s permanent collection.

“The Thinking Man’s Chair represents the enduring value of Jasper Morrison’s work. Whilst apparently simple and spare, it is in fact complex in design, and difficult to make. The now-iconic profile involves 22 component parts fusing flat and round elements of differing radii. It represents quiet modernism, with individual flair. An early terracotta chair has sat in our courtyard for nearly 20 years – and whilst battered and bruised it just gets better and feels like an old friend.”
Simon Alderson

For our anniversary, we were keen to revisit our formative years and celebrate a design that was instrumental in both Morrison’s career and our reputation as a progressive design retailer. We recalled a conversation initiated many years ago, in which we considered how the Thinking Man’s Chair might be with a galvanised finish – akin to roadside railings that were utilitarian and indestructible, but with a crystalline finish.


"Not long after I designed the Thinking Man’s chair in about 1990, I came across a couple of young design dealers in Alfies Market in London and bought some Joe Colombo lights from them. The market stall became a shop selling new furniture, called twentytwentyone. And here we are thirty years on with one of my earliest designs in a new finish proposed by twentytwentyone. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier!"

Jasper Morrison

“I love the idea of galvanized Thinking Man’s chair produced in 25 pieces. We can think to a numbered edition and I would like to call it TMC 2021 chair.”
Giulio Cappellini


In partnership with Jasper Morrison and Giulio Cappellini, we are pleased to offer the limited-edition TMC 2021 Chair with a new galvanised finish in hot-dip zinc. A sought-after collector's item, just 25 chairs are available, each consecutively numbered and marked with a stainless steel plaque.


As well as the Thinking Man’s Chair, we will be launching several other limited editions of classic designs as the year goes on. Each release celebrates a designer that has played an important part in our story – launches from the likes of Robin Day, Alvar Aalto, Anni Albers and Barber Osgerby, as well as a special 25-year anniversary event later in the year, are all to look forward to.

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