EILEEN GRAY, 1926
Object
The Bibendum armchair was designed by Eileen Gray in 1926 and is one of the most successful pieces by the Irish designer, architect, and artist.
Bibendum is a distinctive armachiar, composed of a tubular metal base and a substantial seat made up of a base and two semi-circular cylinders stacked on top of each other.
This armchair features a design that is appealing to contemporary designers who are today exploring pure geometric forms and an aesthetic that is both playful and poetic—consider, for instance, the Neotenic lamp by Petite Friture (featured in our guide to table lamps).
The armchair first appeared in the late 1920s when Eileen Gray placed one alongside her famous Lota sofa and other pieces in a famous Parisian interior she was commissioned to design.
From that moment on, the armchair became a recurring element in Gray’s elegant, pure, and unconventional interiors. She included it in the furnishings of her renowned Villa E-1027, alongside the E-1027 Table and the Tube Light—the Bibendum armchair can be seen in this photo.
Today, the Bibendum armchair is reissued by ClassiCon, along with Eileen Gray’s entire furniture collection, like Tube Light and her Rug collection for example.
Produced in Germany, this reissue stays as faithful as possible to Eileen’s original designs, while the manufacturer strives to use modern, sustainable materials and technologies that align with contemporary environmental standards.
The few original models of the Bibendum chair fetch record prices at auction—such as this example sold by Christie’s for over 600,000 euros.
The Bibendum Chair in Culture and Museums
It is said that Eileen Gray named her armchair “Bibendum” in honor (and with irony) of the Michelin Man, who is also called Bibendum. Another theory is that Eileen named her imposing armchair in reference to Horace and his “Nunc est Bibendum,” an ode to celebration and victory, which the chair’s comfortable form seems to suggest—a place for conviviality, toasting, and conversation. Both theories are amusing and could be valid.
Culturally, the Bibendum armchair was one of the first pieces of furniture made from tubular metal, embodying the pure modernist spirit.
Although Eileen Gray’s fame remained dormant for a long time, the work of this great Irish designer who worked in Paris has always been cherished by industry professionals and is now gradually being rediscovered by a broader audience.
In terms of museum collections, the Bibendum armchair is part of the world’s leading design museums. The Centre Pompidou in Paris held a solo exhibition of Gray’s work in 2014.
Eileen Gray
ClassiCon
Founded in 1990, ClassiCon is a German manufacturer renowned for producing high-quality classic and contemporary furniture. The company is celebrated for reissuing design icons, such as the works of Eileen Gray, and for promoting new talents, always maintaining a balance between tradition and avant-garde.
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Details
ClassiCon
The original reissue of the Bibendum armchair by Eileen Gray is available online at Mohd >
The dimensions of the Bibendum armchair by Eileen Gray:
Frame: chrome-plated steel tube
Seat: beechwood structure with rubber straps
Upholstery: polyurethane with cotton quilting and fabric and leather covers in various colors.
