What has four legs, a sturdy back, and a boatload of personality? That’s right: it’s Robin Day’s 675 Chair!
In 1952, acclaimed furniture designer, Robin Day, set out to create a dining chair that contrasted the heavy and dense furniture designs of a post World War II Britain (Case Furniture). For this project, he envisioned a minimalist frame, fashioning a chair with a molded plywood back that overcame the issue of rigidity. By connecting the armrests in a swooping manner, the chair took on a fluid shape that tied the rectangular cushion and simplistic framework together, seamlessly.
Poised, polished, and pragmatic, the 675 Chair defied the normative furniture designs of the 1950s, introducing a contemporary and sleek composition that would inspire mid-century designers for decades to come.
Coincidentally, praise for the 675 Chair has been ignited once more, as fifteen leading textile designers have been commissioned to put their own creative spin on Robin Day’s magnum opus. Organized by Case Furniture, the producer representing Day’s work, this diverse collection of 675 Chairs are being displayed in London’s Tottenham Court as they are auctioned off online until August 21st. Appropriately, all proceeds from the sale of these chairs will be donated to the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation, a charity that focuses on preserving the legacy of the two designers and supporting design education for all.
As for the contemporary designers participating in this fundraiser, the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation sought individuals from various backgrounds that differed drastically in their design expertise. From Bill Amberg using bespoke leather to cover the entire chair, to Margo Selby drawing inspiration from Lucienne Day’s mosaic work, the charity has compiled a truly unique ballot of designers that spectacularly continues the influence of the 675 Chair.
To reiterate, the auction ends on August 21st, and the chairs will be available for auction through Heal’s flagship store. Learn more about the fundraiser and the eclectic designers behind the “new” 675 Chairs here.
