A famous mid-century furniture designer once said, “what looks good can change, but what works, works”. Is our iconic Mid-Century Lounge Chair Replica the exception to this rule? We’ll give you a sneak peek – It’s a design that looks as good today as it did 70 years ago and is certainly just as comfortable!
In this blog, we explain everything you ever wanted to know about the Mid-Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman, why it’s as popular as ever, and why its faithful replica is your living room’s new best friend.
The History Of The Iconic Mid-Century Lounge Chair Replica
We’re sure you’re aware of this classic design as its tilted silhouette can be seen in many popular TV programmes from Frasier to House, and has had more celebrities photographed on it than any other chair: Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and Ice Cube, to name a few.
The mid-century lounge chair was designed in 1956, after years of development, as a present for the designer’s Oscar-winning friend Billy Wilder so that he could watch TV more comfortably. The chair has since rocketed to its illustrious place in history as a permanent fixture in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
The lounge chair is delivered with a superb ottoman, where the high quality and attention to detail make this chair look so exquisite in any living room. Actually, it doesn’t just look great, but it’s the perfect chair for relaxation as it’s so comfortable. Of course, its designers didn’t just design mid-century modern furniture to be cheap or to appeal to the century’s biggest stars. Each of their designs was innovative and made to push furniture production forwards.
The Iconic Mid-Century Chair Replica
The famous range of mid-century lounge chairs (or 670 as originally called) differs greatly in ethos from any’ previous designs. Before 670, one of its designers was renowned for his dining arm chairs which were designed and produced as affordable, quality pieces of furniture for the masses. Created for the high-end market, the mid-century lounge chair differs in this respect, symbolising luxurious taste and lifestyle.
With the 670 no exception, the design duo used new technology to create its smooth curved seat and backrest shells. Steam-bent wood was rarely seen in production furniture until the pair utilised this method to increase the chair’s simplicity, beauty and comfort.
And it’s the chair’s most renowned feature, which is the comfort that brings us nicely to one of the designers’ greatest assets, best described in this feature by the Washington Post: “the design team behind the chair had a remarkable understanding of ergonomic principles long before these were developed into a science in the 1970s”.
This unbeatable level of ergonomic comfort is perhaps best captured (until you get to sit in one for yourself) by the story of the designers inviting the film producer Julian Blaustein to use a prototype lounge chair for sitting whilst reading over scripts. The designer left and returned shortly to find the producer asleep, when apparently, Blaustein was embarrassed, but the designer was happy! As testimony to the pioneering and thought-provoking design, New York’s Museum of Modern Art holds a permanent display of the famous leather mid-century lounge chair.
Yet despite a high-end status in the furniture world, these mid-century lounge chairs are a sought-after piece for nearly any of the popular interior design styles. As its designers were just as focused on the aesthetics of their designs as the quality and production, the iconic mid-century lounge chair is an exceptionally beautiful piece with a truly timeless appeal, partly due to its proportions.
The chair and ottoman seat are made of matching sizes, whilst the seat and headrest can be interchanged due to their symmetrical design. Small details like this allow the 670 to flourish as an accent chair or a chair to admire a beautiful view.
About Our Pash Classics Mid-Century Lounge Chair Replica
If you’ve ever been interested in what differs from an original to a replica, there isn’t much to wonder about. The Pash Classics mid-century lounge chair replica is made to the same specifications as the original, using high-quality materials and processes. Here’s what makes it stand out:
- The wooden shells are made from seven layers of steam-bent plywood, and even early original models only used five layers
- They’re always upholstered in full-grain Italian leather, something we’re very proud of
- It has injection moulded memory foam cushions that perfectly fit the shape of the seat, back and headrest
- The plastic shock mounts allow the back to flex under movement and last far longer than the original’s rubber mounts, so there’s no need to repair or replace it
- It has a solid die-cast aluminium base that is more than strong enough to support you whilst you read and nap
- Real rosewood or walnut veneers cover the steam-bent plywood, allowing the natural wood grain to give each chair a unique appearance
- An original Mid-Century Lounge Chair will set you back over £5000, but the Pash Classics replica is available with a gorgeous Ottoman for just £799
Final Thoughts
Given the mid-century lounge chair’s impact on the world of furniture and popular culture, it’s understandable why you’d want to own one! They’re an instant hit with anyone who has an interest in interior design trends, and they hold the ability to transform any modern home interior.
The iconic lounge chair replica is available from Pash Classics, where you can choose the veneer finish you’d like, and the options are oak/natural, rosewood and walnut. The leather options are white, black, cream and brown, designed with luxury, relaxation and comfort in mind, so it’s ideal for people of all ages.
