1000 Chairs (Paperback)

by Charlotte Fiell (Author), Peter Fiell (Author), Simone Philippi (Author) "The concept of connections is intrinsic to design and nowhere more so than in the design of chairs..." (more)
Key Phrases: bent tubular steel frame, chromed tubular steel frame, mit stoffbezug, New York, Ray Eames, George Nelson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Sleek, stuffed, buttoned, or bent, in the den or the dining room, the chair is an indicator of its owner's identity. Chairs make up much of the interior landscape of our homes and workplaces, and a comfortable chair is considered a great asset in either location. A rigorous survey of the last 150 years of chairs, 1000 Chairs is a pictorial guide to the axiom "you are where you sit." Writers Charlotte and Peter Fiell argue that, as well as being an icon of identity, the chair is a form through which designers engage in social, political, and even ergonomic rhetoric. A good example is George Nelson's mass-produced modular seating system. Geometrical in design, its austere, mostly rectilinear lines are efficient and economical. The book follows developments and mutations in chair design from the days before art deco through the rise of modernity and into the mid-'90s, when designers like Philippe Starck used such materials as recycled plastic and injection molded polypropylene.

In total there are more than the 1000 advertised illustrations, and each is accompanied by a small text describing the significance of the chair and its designer. The book includes more than 100 capsule biographies of such designers as Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Adolph Loos, and Marcel Breuer. The only problem with 1000 Chairs is, ironically, its own ergonomics. At about eight by six inches and nearly 800 pages, it is an unwieldy little tome. That aside, this is a great book--a must for anyone interested in sitting down. --Loren E. Baldwin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This work covers 200 years of chair design, represented by 1000 chairs by some 400 designers. It spans design styles from Art Nouveau to the International Style, from Pop Art to Postmodernism, looking at designers from Hoffman to Ron Arad.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Benedikt Taschen Verlag; 2nd edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English, French, German
• ISBN-10: 3822857602
• ISBN-13: 978-3822857601
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,374 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a small book with big content, March 6, 2000

By	Ping Lim (Christchurch) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 1000 Chairs (Klotz) (Paperback)

This is a very informative reference book on chairs. The introduction summarises succinctly the significance of chairs in our day to day life. It's not only something that we could sit on. The book is conveyed in 3 different languages, illustrated with mixtures of colour & B&W pictures. Biographies of the designers & manufacturers' information come in rather handy indeed. Brief descriptions of chairs are useful at times but then again, I'm finding the descriptions too brief for my full understanding. If the book is too technical, this would turn off general public who merely want to have a general overview on designer or lifestyle chairs. The book was published in 1997 & needless to say, more new chairs would have come out by now. Then again, I'm not complaining considering that almost all modern classics chairs are included. I think it's quite risky to try to squeeze too much information into one book. Having said that, this book deserves a spot on my coffee-table for being a well presented book (as we expect of Taschen) & as a good talking point.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're into design, this is your design bible., December 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 1000 Chairs (Klotz) (Paperback)

'1000 chairs' is an easy, pictorial guide through 20th Century chair-design. The pictures are very professional, and they all have short texts to briefly explain the significance and context of that particular chair. The chairs are placed in the order of which they were made, which allows you to understand and see the style of that period. The book also shows you how significant CHAIR design is in the world of design and architecture, as that is where styles most commonly makes its first appearance. As a design student, '1000 chairs' has been invaluable in my understanding of designs and period styles, as well as a great introduction to designers/architects and their personal styles. The book has become a good and helpful friend, and there is nothing about the book I feel is missing or shouldn't be there. I don't know where I would have been without it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. A beginning modern dealer's must!, November 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 1000 Chairs (Klotz) (Paperback)

I cant stress enough how often i use this book to refer to as a modern furniture dealer. Very informative. Great color pictures,information on manufacturers,designers,re-issues, licenses,etc/ from Thonet to Starck. Kudos to Charlotte & peter Fiell!!