Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona chair in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exposition — a chair fit for royalty, literally. He needed seating worthy of the King and Queen of Spain. Nearly a century later it remains one of the most recognized furniture designs ever made, still in production, still copied endlessly.
These chairs are something rarer than a typical vintage example: documented architectural provenance. Specified for the McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University in Detroit, designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki with interiors by Florence Knoll — one of the defining American campus buildings of the postwar era, completed in 1958. Florence Knoll didn't specify furniture casually. Every piece in a Knoll interior was considered.
Stainless steel frames — not chrome, which is what most Barcelona chairs have, including Knoll's standard production today. Stainless is the premium specification: heavier, more refined, and increasingly rare in vintage examples. Black leather upholstery, c. 1960 Knoll Associates production. The leather has softened beautifully with age, the frames are clean and sharp. Ready for a living room, not a museum.
Priced individually. Four available — can be purchased singly or as a pair.
Provenance: McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Wayne State University, Detroit · Private Collection
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe · Knoll Associates · designed 1929, produced c. 1960 Leather upholstery, stainless steel 30"h × 30"w × 29"d
$4,750 per chair · Four available
Interested in this piece? Reach out at josh@theprairiemodern.com or call/text 323.719.9242. Shipping and local delivery available — quoted per piece
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona chair in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exposition — a chair fit for royalty, literally. He needed seating worthy of the King and Queen of Spain. Nearly a century later it remains one of the most recognized furniture designs ever made, still in production, still copied endlessly.
These chairs are something rarer than a typical vintage example: documented architectural provenance. Specified for the McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University in Detroit, designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki with interiors by Florence Knoll — one of the defining American campus buildings of the postwar era, completed in 1958. Florence Knoll didn't specify furniture casually. Every piece in a Knoll interior was considered.
Stainless steel frames — not chrome, which is what most Barcelona chairs have, including Knoll's standard production today. Stainless is the premium specification: heavier, more refined, and increasingly rare in vintage examples. Black leather upholstery, c. 1960 Knoll Associates production. The leather has softened beautifully with age, the frames are clean and sharp. Ready for a living room, not a museum.
Priced individually. Four available — can be purchased singly or as a pair.
Provenance: McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Wayne State University, Detroit · Private Collection
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe · Knoll Associates · designed 1929, produced c. 1960 Leather upholstery, stainless steel 30"h × 30"w × 29"d
$4,750 per chair · Four available
Interested in this piece? Reach out at josh@theprairiemodern.com or call/text 323.719.9242. Shipping and local delivery available — quoted per piece
