A Barcelona Chair might just be one of the finest piece of designer furniture you can add to your home or office. The notoriety of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich’s renowned Barcelona chair carries its cultural importance to any environment or living space in which it is placed. In interior design, this Barcelona Chair is known to epitomize mid-century modern art. And in architecture, the Barcelona Chair is a timeless designer masterpiece created by the master of the modern architectural movement himself. The proper form and function of the design elements in the Barcelona Chair require both high quality material and superior craftsmanship to show the genuine spirit and cultural significance of this piece of elite modern furniture. Poor workmanship diminishes the Barcelona Chair’s sophisticated and cultural impact, in addition to speaking poorly to its surroundings. If you’re looking for a replica of this chair, then only the finest reproductions that replicate the purism of the Barcelona chair should be purchased. 
When buying a Barcelona Chair, it is highly recommended that this following list of ten design and material elements of the Barcelona Chair should be considered before buying: 1) The stainless steel frame should be perfectly smooth and flawless. It was Mies’s intent to redesign the original 1929 Barcelona Chair in 1950 due to the advent of stainless steel. Using only stainless steel is imperative to maintain the integrity of the Barcelona Chair’s modular style. There should not be any seams or braces on the welding joints.
2) The recommended stainless steel is “authentic chromium-nickel alloys” of series 301, 302, 303, 304, 309, 316, or 321. 304 and 316 are the most prevalent grades. For Barcelona Chairs, the 400, 500, and 600 combination of stainless steel aren’t accurate replicates, partially a result of the metal’s “over-durability, ” however higher grades of steel will often be used in replicas. The stainless steel in the 200 Series of “authentic chromium-nickel-manganese alloys” is perfect for chroming for the Barcelona Chair, but it’s not at all ideal in hot, humid areas. The Barcelona Chair may are also made of Chrome, but stainless steel tends to have a higher resiliency to corrosion.
3) A highly distinctive element of the Barcelona Chair would be the polish on the stainless steel frame. A No. 7, a reflective finish, or No. 8 mirror finish is an absolute must.
4) The upholstery should only be cowhide. Synthetics should never be considered unless it is used for straps. A high quality top grain Italian leather is a great choice for leather and aniline leather would be an even better one. The Knoll authentic version of the Barcelona Chair uses a good yet untreated top grain bovine natural leather, however the porousness of the leather gives it the unfortunate susceptibility to stain easily. (Knoll’s official Barcelona Chair uses “1. 1 mm thick, grain corrected Spinneybeck Volo natural leather. ”) Full grain natural leather tends to acquire the well-aged look over time but top grain is the most durable on the market today. Your choice should depend on quality and the environment where the chair is to be used. The untreated full grain leather is probably not a practical choice in the business lobby or areas in your home with plenty of social engagements.
5) The foam density can vary between countries, but should be between thirty and thirty six kgs per cubic meter with the Barcelona feel. Personal comfort is the key consideration. Ideally, the cushions should be constructed using resilient urethane foam and a Dacron polyester fiberfill. Additionally, a great deal of attention should be paid to fire safety certification requirements in your region.
6) The Barcelona chair cushions should be held up by 17 straps of bovine natural leather, approximately 7oz to 8oz within weight, dyed the same color as the cushions. Although to replicate the authentic look, real leather strap are needed but from a practical perspective, synthetic leather straps do a much better job holding up the cushions and last a lot longer. The straps should be secured to the steel frame with 34 screws, which can either be stainless steel or aluminum. (The authentic Knoll version has used both type of screws in the past.) The screws (and rivets if used) should not be noticeable. (Being in a position to see the screws and rivets is a poor replica.)
7) The Barcelona Chai should have 40 tufted panels, preferably hand-tufted.
8) The interior of the leather-covered buttons should be hollow.
9) Rope should be used for piping; nevertheless hemp and cotton can be acceptable. Plastic piping reflect poor quality and construction.
10) The cushions shouldn’t be overly large to the point where its overlapping this frame. After all, Mies will be the father of the saying “less will be more. ”
Buying a premium replica of the Barcelona Chair on your home or business is undoubtedly no easy task. Evaluate your purchase of the Barcelona Chair using the ten tips in this guideline. It will help ensure that your Barcelona Chair reproduction is of the highest quality, and truest to the varieties of modern design that Mies in addition to Lilly inspired decades ago. To make it easier for you, Emfurn carries the highest quality reproduction of the Barcelona chair. Please visit www.emfurn.com to learn more.
Mid Century Modern Chairs 