On Facebook Marketplace , these chairs always have a place at the popular table .
Brian Anderson
Key Takeaways
When scroll through interior dress stories and inspirational photograph , chances are high you ’ll spot the Cesca president . With a distinct cantilevered silhouette , it ’s become an effected icon of midcentury seating , a basic of dining spaces for almost a hundred . The Cesca is especially popular in the used market , from luxury on-line resellers toFacebook Marketplace — sometimes sell for hundreds of dollar , even when they have split and imperfections .
So , what ’s the backstory of this classic president ? We ask Dr. Rosa Otero , and as the conservator and architect of the Sutton Initiative for Design Education Chair Library , she make love a matter or two about legendary seats . Here , Otero shares about Cesca ’s long history , what makes it such an iconic piece of music of decor , and what to view when you ’re on the treasure hunt for a secondhand Cesca .
Dr. Rosa D. Oterois Professor of Design at Salem College in North Carolina and the curator and interior decorator of the Sutton Initiative for Design EducationChair Library .
Credit:Brian Anderson
The Cesca Chair: Then and Now
Designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928 , the Cesca was the first chair to combine tubular steel with natural fibers — and according to Otero , this marked a rotatory geological fault in materials and design principles .
" The chair ’s cantilevered form , which feature handwoven cane set within solid beech frame , was hailed as a modern chef-d’oeuvre , ” Otero say . or else of the usual four - legged style , it has an exposed back and a frame of two front legs , make a recognizable silhouette . “ Its sleek , continuous line and simplify structure reduce the ' ocular noise ' of traditional furniture design , underscore function and form , " she continues .
Breuer ’s innovative use of tubular steel was first learn on theWassily Chair , which he developed in 1925 . consort to Otero , his work was inspired by the ideals of the Bauhaus school day , where he trained and cooperate with prominent figures like Le Corbusier , Mies van der Rohe , and Walter Gropius . Wassily and Cesca were not only innovative in their design and stuff , but they embodied the Bauahus focus on simple mindedness and functionality as defining trait of New style .
Credit:Knoll
Breuer ’s Cesca chair was earlier known as the B32 when it manufactured by Thonet . Then , in the fifties , Italian troupe Gavina took over production of the chair and renamed it after Breuer ’s daughter , Francesca . American company Knoll acquired the design in the tardy 1960s and create it today . They ’ve sold more than a quarter of a million version of the Cesca — and along with the original caned seat and back , Knoll declare oneself upholstered versions , and it ’s available armed or armless in either chairman or stool tiptop .
Dr. Otero
If you ’re fortunate and the ' chair gods ' are on your side , there ’s always a opportunity that the consummate piece of music might seem … but you need to be vigilant .
Cesca is consider by many designers to be amongthe most important chairsof the twentieth century , Otero say , and she summate that its continuous product — and the fact that it ’s widely repeat — is a testament to its endure influence .
In the past decade , we ’ve seen a number of factors converge to make the Cesca so try after : There ’s been a significant revival of midcentury advanced innovation ( especially with furniture ) , and the uber - popularorganic modern stylehas lead to more quick wood and cane accents . Contemporary decorating trends are also promoting mixing styles , embracing secondhand article of furniture , and gift in gamey - quality furnishing for more earthly concern - conscious and personality - driven interiors .
Knoll
Shopping for Cesca Chairs
Otero advocate going for the highest quality and authenticity if you ’re looking for areal deal Cesca — mean you should corrupt it from the company authorized to produce it ( that company presently being Knoll ) . However , the price can be prohibitory for many , as it retail for about $ 1,200 .
New or vintage , original Cescas are not the only choice on the food market : you may still snag the Bauhaus , modernist style as an alternative .
“ Fortunately for most people , the Cesca is considered one of the most copied chair design in history , so high - quality reproduction and knockoffs are not hard to find , ” Otero says . “ If you ’re fortunate and the ' chairperson gods ' are on your side , there ’s always a hazard that the perfect piece might seem … but you require to be wakeful . "
The Cesca has been around for almost 100 years , so keep an eye out for it at 1000 andestate sales , 2nd hand memory , and Facebook Marketplace ; you ’re almost sure to find them at retail merchant like Chairish and 1stDibs .
Tips for Evaluating Secondhand Finds
Both manipulation and environmental weather condition take a price on any chair , including the Cesca .
“ Common issues admit cracking or sagging of the cane seat and rusting of the metallic element frame , " Otero say . " Also , [ look for ] discoloration of the cane and loosening of the tail end and back from the material body . "
For version of the Cesca with upholstered seats or backs , Otero enunciate the quality of the upholstery is a pregnant element in its condition .
Do n’t be surprised to find oneself Cescas with damaged seats and backs , regardless of the fabric . you could bump renewal online orreupholsteror re - lambast it . A damaged frame get it harder to convey a Cesca back to life sentence .
Identifying an Authentic Cesca Chair
If you ’re wondering about the genuineness of secondhand Cesca , Otero has a few matter you should check for .
“ There are some minor design particular that make the biggest difference , ” she says . “ For instance , the sled base of an unquestionable Cesca should not be wholly mat , and the ends of the frame of reference are welded and substantial . ”
If a marketer claims the Cesca is original , Otero suggests asking for a certificate of authenticity . If there is n’t one , there are other item that may help you with identification .
“ search for Marcel Breuer ’s key signature , and if made by Knoll , the KnollStudio logotype will be stamp on the groundwork of the Cesca death chair , ” Otero enjoin . “ For versions made by Thonet and/or Gavina , you should look for the manufacturer ’s mark on the bottom of the ass or the side of the systema skeletale . ”
