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Armadillo Chair

Armchair
1969 (made)
Artist/Maker
B&B Italia (manufacturer)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

Thick chromium plated steel tube frame. The seat/back is a long sling of white plastic with a zip fastening at the top back. The upper surface is formed of tightly grouped horizontal pads covered in red and white plastic.

Object details

Categories
Plastic
Furniture
Object type
Armchair
TitleArmadillo Chair (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Chromium-plated steel tube frame; seat/back of white plastic, covered in red and white plastic.
Steel
Plastic
Plating
Brief description
Armchair, Armadillo, 1969, designed by Designers Associated Milan: Gianni Pareschi, Roberto Ubaldi, Gianfranco Facchetti, Pino Pensotti, Umberto Orsoni, Ezio Didone, Alberto Colombi, manufactured by Busnelli, Milan
Physical description
Thick chromium plated steel tube frame. The seat/back is a long sling of white plastic with a zip fastening at the top back. The upper surface is formed of tightly grouped horizontal pads covered in red and white plastic.
Dimensions
  • Height: 107cm (From grey file)
  • Depth: 106cm (From grey file)
  • Width: 70cm (From grey file)
  • Height: 34cm (Seat height; from grey file)
Object history
Armchair, Armadillo. Designed by Designers Associated Milan: Gianni Pareschi, Roberto Ubaldi, Gianfranco Facchetti, Pino Pensotti, Umberto Orsoni, Ezio Didone, Alberto Colombi. . Design team, Milan, formed 1968. Designed and manufactured by Busnelli, Milan. First shown at the Cologne Furniture Fair, 1970.

Description of Craftsmen from Hollis, R. 1970. Modern Chairs:1918-1970. The Whitechapel Art Gallery, London:
Architects, graphic, industrial designers. Design team, Milan, formed 1968. Member designers: Gianni Pareschi, Roberto Ubaldi, Gianfranco Facchetti, Pino Pensotti, Umberto Orsoni, Ezio Didone, Alberto Colombi. Range of objects designed has included ceramic tiles and vases, blown glass, lamps, furniture, exhibition display units.

Description of similar object from Hollis, R. 1970. Modern Chairs:1918-1970. The Whitechapel Art Gallery, London:
The form of the upholstery, a visually tight shead of flattish sewn plastic, cushion elements, is perhaps the most interesting technical feature of the chair, and adapts itself exceptionally well to the flexibility of its hammock-type seat. Its particular formal interest, however, perhaps lies in its throne-like, slightly exaggerated scale. It was first shown at the Cologne Furniture Fair, 1970.

Bibliographic reference
'Polyurethane-coated textiles found on furniture from the 1960s amd 1970s: their manufacture, deterioration and consolidation'; V&A/RCA Conservation MA thesis by Barbara Schertel, 2006, considering this chair and Circ.73-1970
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.431-1970

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Record createdAugust 9, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126914/armadillo-chair-armchair-bb-italia/
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