Mandarin Armchair By Ettore Sottsass For Knoll, 1986

The Mandarin Armchair, designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll International in 1986, is representative of the postmodern furniture developed by the Italian designer in the 1980s.

This version combines a seat and backrest upholstered in blue fabric with a black metal frame. The design is dominated by the two large, curved tubular armrests that trace a continuous curve on either side of the armchair. Their sculptural lines contrast with the deliberately simple geometry of the seat, the rectangular backrest, and the four straight legs.
Created a few years after the founding of the Memphis Group, the Mandarin armchair belongs to a period during which Sottsass continued his exploration of color, geometry, and the transformation of traditional furniture typologies. Knoll notably draws parallels between the design of its armrests and the forms of Thonet’s bentwood furniture.

Seat height: 45 cm

Produced by: Knoll International, 1986.