Mies Ludwig van der Rohe 1886 - 1969

A contemporary of Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius (the founder of the Bauhaus School), Mies is one of the original instigators of the Modernist Movement.

In the early 20th century modernism and minimalism were coming together in the work of Mies and his peers, while being actively promoted by both the Bauhaus and an organization called the 'Novembergruppe' (of which he was also a member).

The modern city, with its towers of glass and steel, can be at least in part attributed to the influence of architect Mies van der Rohe. Equally significant, if smaller in scale, is Mies' daring design of furniture, pieces that exhibit an unerring sense of proportion, as well as minimalist forms and exquisitely refined details. In fact, his
chairs have been called architecture in miniature exercises in structure and materials that achieve an extraordinary visual harmony as autonomous pieces or in relation to the interiors for which they were originally designed.

Mies designed modern furniture pieces using new industrial technologies that have become popular classics, such as the Barcelona chair and table, and the Brno chair. His furniture is known for fine craftsmanship, a mix of traditional luxurious fabrics like leather combined with modern chrome frames, and a distinct separation of the supporting structure and the supported surfaces, often employing cantilevers to enhance the feeling of lightness created by delicate structural frames. During this period, he collaborated closely with interior designer and companion Lilly Reich.

The famous Barcelona X Chair chair followed, a design dedicated to the Spanish Royalty, in honor of the 1929 official opening of the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exhibition. Said to be derived from his interpretation of an Egyptian royal folding chair and a Roman folding footstool, it came to define the genre, an icon for the era and perhaps the whole movement. It is truly a royal chair in every sense.