Bel Air armchair
Drawing
January 1982 to December 1982 (made)
January 1982 to December 1982 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The 'Bel Air' armchair is thought by some critics to be one of the most significant Memphis Group pieces. Its use of asymmetrical design overall and a mixture of basic forms in unexpected places and bright colours embodies the unconventional aspects of Memphis which intended to challenge the narrow constraints of traditional Italian furniture design and manufacture.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Bel Air armchair (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil and bodycolour |
| Brief description | design for Bel Air armchair |
| Physical description | Design showing two views on one sheet for the upholstered asymmetrical armchair coloured in bright primary colours. The carcass is bright yellow, the left armrest is pink, the seat green. Each foot is different: one a round purple ball, another a red oblong and across the front a single blue foot. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Design |
| Marks and inscriptions | On the front: Signed and dated in ball-point pen: SHIRE 1982; and inscribed in pencil with colour notes. On the back: PETER SHIRE LONDRA. |
| Production | Signed and dated Peter Shire Londra 1982 Reason For Production: Retail |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The 'Bel Air' armchair is thought by some critics to be one of the most significant Memphis Group pieces. Its use of asymmetrical design overall and a mixture of basic forms in unexpected places and bright colours embodies the unconventional aspects of Memphis which intended to challenge the narrow constraints of traditional Italian furniture design and manufacture. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Barbara Radice, Memphis, Thames and Hudson, 1985, p.123 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.406-1986 |
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| Record created | April 14, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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