166/1999

Collection

Furniture

Brief description

'Plia' chair made from perspex and chromed steel, designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969, manufactured in Italy by Castelli. It was acquired from the original owner and there are two Documenting Homes collections associated with this object, 191/2010 and 314/2010.

Title

Plia

Object name

chair

Object number

166/1999

Location

On Display

Production person

Giancarlo Piretti (designer)

Production organisation

Castelli (manufacturer)

Production date

1969 (designed)

Production place

Ozzano dell'Emilia (manufactured)

Period

Twentieth century (1900-1999)

Material

perspex
chrome
steel

Technique

bent
moulded
plated

Physical description

This 'Plia' chair has a chromed steel frame and perspex back and seat. The chair folds out and rests on a bent metal frame. The back rest and front 'legs' of the chair are formed out of a flat tube of bent metal to create a rectangle. The rectangle tilts diagonally and leans outwards, in the opposite direction from the back legs. The back legs are also formed out of a single piece of bent metal. The seat juts out horizontally and is made of perspex which is tinged brown. A circular dip has been moulded into the perspex seat. The back rest is also made of perspex and consists of a strip of perspex set into the top part of the metal frame. The back rest has a semi-circular dip moulded into the perspex.

Dimensions

Height: 74.8cm
Width: 46.5cm
Depth: 50cm

Website keywords

Decoration and furnishings
furniture
seating

Label

Caption for Exploring 20th Century London website:

The couple who originally owned this chair lived in Twickenham in south west London. The wife was a teacher at nearby St Paul's Girls School and the husband worked in the timber trade. Their house was built in about 1960 and was furnished with Scandinavian furniture and other pieces in a contemporary style. This chair was made around 1970 and was used by the couple in their open-plan living/dining room. As it folds up for storage it would have been a useful addition to this type of flexible living space.

Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):

‘Plia’ chair
Acrylic and chrome

Like the one to the left, this chair was also designed by an Italian, Giancarlo Piretti, in 1969. It makes use of the innovative materials acrylic and chrome and can fold flat, making it useful for the smaller homes being built in the second half of the 20th century.