Tom Dixon, prototype S chair, 1987-88
S chair prototype by Tom Dixon
Pair available, priced singularly.
The S chair offered is an early developmental prototype. It was acquired in the late 1980s as part of a group of designs by Tom Dixon directly from the designer in exchange for a painting.
Significantly, the hand-formed and welded steel frame differs from models seen in V&A and MoMA collections, with a simplified single ring base. It closely resembles the example in the Vitra Design Museum collection. The straw is from Norfolk and likely to have been handwoven by Ingrid Chen
The S chair marked a significant point in Tom Dixon’s career when the design was licensed by Giulio Cappellini for international distribution.
The now-iconic profile pays reference to other single-piece cantilever chair designs from Gerrit Reitveld’s Zig Zag and Verner Panton’s designs in plywood and plastic.
Tom Dixon says of the design:
“I have often been asked what the inspiration was behind the S-Chair and, honestly, the only memory I have is of drawing a small doodle of a chicken […] and thinking that I could make a chair from it.”
“The secret of its success, I believe, was creating an unexpected and unconventional shape in an archetypical comforting material.”
It is thought that Dixon’s workshops may have produced around 60 S-chairs before manufacture was taken over by Cappellini. These early chairs were in a variety of materials including latex, wicker and tyre inner tubes. They also employed found materials and components for the base configuration, with Tom Dixon being a founding member of the ‘Creative Salvage’ movement.
It is perhaps the rustic nature of woven straw in combination with a modernist profile that is most successful.
Vintage Archive
twentytwentyone was founded with a strong representation of original, vintage design. This piece has now found a new home, but joins our extensive vintage archive.
Visit our Vintage Furniture section for available pieces.
Trade Professional?
Get in touch for trade pricing, project management and consolidated deliveries.
Description
S chair prototype by Tom Dixon
Pair available, priced singularly.
The S chair offered is an early developmental prototype. It was acquired in the late 1980s as part of a group of designs by Tom Dixon directly from the designer in exchange for a painting.
Significantly, the hand-formed and welded steel frame differs from models seen in V&A and MoMA collections, with a simplified single ring base. It closely resembles the example in the Vitra Design Museum collection. The straw is from Norfolk and likely to have been handwoven by Ingrid Chen
The S chair marked a significant point in Tom Dixon’s career when the design was licensed by Giulio Cappellini for international distribution.
The now-iconic profile pays reference to other single-piece cantilever chair designs from Gerrit Reitveld’s Zig Zag and Verner Panton’s designs in plywood and plastic.
Tom Dixon says of the design:
“I have often been asked what the inspiration was behind the S-Chair and, honestly, the only memory I have is of drawing a small doodle of a chicken […] and thinking that I could make a chair from it.”
“The secret of its success, I believe, was creating an unexpected and unconventional shape in an archetypical comforting material.”
It is thought that Dixon’s workshops may have produced around 60 S-chairs before manufacture was taken over by Cappellini. These early chairs were in a variety of materials including latex, wicker and tyre inner tubes. They also employed found materials and components for the base configuration, with Tom Dixon being a founding member of the ‘Creative Salvage’ movement.
It is perhaps the rustic nature of woven straw in combination with a modernist profile that is most successful.
Dimensions
45 x 50 x 50/99cmh
Materials
Woven straw seat with steel frame
Product Downloads
Help / Advice
-
Call: 0207 837 1900
-
Email: showroom@twentytwentyone.com
-
Chat: here