The Tamesis
Sometimes the appearance of a piece of furniture changes everything around us. If a painting is for viewing and fashion is for wearing, then furniture is for living in – sleeping, working, and sitting. It determines how we interact with the space around us and how we spend our days. Even in the most mundane moments: George Nelson’s collection for Herman Miller, for example, created the template for the cubicle that can now be found in office buildings across the United States.
But what are these works that have found their way not only into our homes but into our collective consciousness? Fashion We asked interior designers and professionals to find out. Their answers ranged from a simple farm table to Gaetano Pesce’s space-age-style Up chair. Some of them resemble priceless works of art: take Yves Klein’s Table IKB, for example. In 1961, Klein painted a canvas using International Klein Blue, which he invented himself. (The work is now on display at the Museum of Modern Art.) Two years later, after the artist died, his widow brought to market a coffee table filled with the same ultramarine pigment based on the late artist’s prototype. However, unlike fine art, design is a medium where form almost always follows function: you can still put a coffee cup on an IKB table – although we recommend using coasters.
Here’s a list of the most iconic furniture designs in history, chosen by experts.
Photo: Courtesy of 1stDibs
Charles Dudouyt’s sideboards have become iconic for their reverence for craftsmanship and handcrafted details. Working from the 1920s to the 1940s, he combined refined Art Deco geometries with sculptural solid oak and bold proportions. Each piece carries its own story – shaped by material, maker and time – and feels essentially timeless, designed to be passed down from generation to generation. —Sarah Solis, Sarah Solis Design Studio
Photo: Courtesy of 1stDibs
