Chair model B403
Chair
1927 (designed)
1927 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Architect, interior designer and furniture designer, Ferdinand Kramer (1898-1985) studied at the Bauhaus before studying architecture with Theodor Fischer in Munich. During his early career, Kramer designed furniture for Thonet and worked with Ernest May on the affordable public housing project, New Frankfurt (1925-30). Kramer emigrated to America in 1938 where he worked with Norman Bel Geddes on designs for the New York World's Fair of 1939 and on projects including early 'flat pack' furniture.
Ferdinand Kramer's bentwood chair is functional, unornamented, inexpensive and lightweight. These were all characteristics that modernist architects and designers aspired to in the 1920s. Their favourite furniture was the mass-produced chairs by Thonet, mostly designed in the nineteenth century, because they fitted their modernist ideals. Some architects, like Kramer, designed new bentwood furniture, like this chair, that exploited the potential of materials and manufacturing technique, but which were totally of their own time.
On his return to Germany in 1952, Kramer taught and served as the director of building at the Goethe University Frankfurt and was given the task of rebuilding the university; over twenty university buildings were constructed during Kramer's tenure.
Ferdinand Kramer's bentwood chair is functional, unornamented, inexpensive and lightweight. These were all characteristics that modernist architects and designers aspired to in the 1920s. Their favourite furniture was the mass-produced chairs by Thonet, mostly designed in the nineteenth century, because they fitted their modernist ideals. Some architects, like Kramer, designed new bentwood furniture, like this chair, that exploited the potential of materials and manufacturing technique, but which were totally of their own time.
On his return to Germany in 1952, Kramer taught and served as the director of building at the Goethe University Frankfurt and was given the task of rebuilding the university; over twenty university buildings were constructed during Kramer's tenure.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Chair model B403 (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Steam-bent beech and plywood, stained black |
| Brief description | Model B403 chair designed by Ferdinand Kramer and manufactured by Thonet Gebrüder, steam-bent beech wood and plywood stained black, 1927 |
| Physical description | Bentwood chair, stained black, with plywood panel seat and back, and bentwood stretchers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased by the V&A in 2005 [RF 2005/190]. |
| Summary | Architect, interior designer and furniture designer, Ferdinand Kramer (1898-1985) studied at the Bauhaus before studying architecture with Theodor Fischer in Munich. During his early career, Kramer designed furniture for Thonet and worked with Ernest May on the affordable public housing project, New Frankfurt (1925-30). Kramer emigrated to America in 1938 where he worked with Norman Bel Geddes on designs for the New York World's Fair of 1939 and on projects including early 'flat pack' furniture. Ferdinand Kramer's bentwood chair is functional, unornamented, inexpensive and lightweight. These were all characteristics that modernist architects and designers aspired to in the 1920s. Their favourite furniture was the mass-produced chairs by Thonet, mostly designed in the nineteenth century, because they fitted their modernist ideals. Some architects, like Kramer, designed new bentwood furniture, like this chair, that exploited the potential of materials and manufacturing technique, but which were totally of their own time. On his return to Germany in 1952, Kramer taught and served as the director of building at the Goethe University Frankfurt and was given the task of rebuilding the university; over twenty university buildings were constructed during Kramer's tenure. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.3-2005 |
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| Record created | August 2, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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