'MR' chair, designed by Mies van der Rohe, 1926, manufactured late 1960s or 1970

Chromium steel frame and woven seat. Chromium nickel plated steel cantilever frame, in one piece, curving outwards at top of back. Curved tubular steel stretcher rod across front of seat, and attached to right and left sides of the frame. The back and seat are in one piece of close weave cane (alternatively in leather).

MR Chair, designed by Mies van der Rohe, Germany 1926. Born Aachen 1886. Died Chicago 1969. Original manufacturers Jo. Muller, Berlin, and then Gebruder Thonet, Vienna and Berlin and now by various manufacturers. Mies van der Rohe patented his design of chair embodying the principle of a resilient cantilever, and received a substantial income from royalties on that patent (until leaving Germany). MR chairs and armchairs were shown at the Weissenhof Exhibition Stuttgart , 1927 and the Exposition de la Mode.

Description of V&A object, Hollis, R. 1970. Modern Chairs:1918-1970. The Whitechapel Art Gallery, London:
"Mies van der Rohe patented his design of chairs embodying the principle of a resilient cantileaver, and indeed soon derived a substantial part of his income (until the time of his leaving Germany), from royalties on that patent. The MR chairs were shown both in the Stuttgart Werbund Exhibition, and in the Exposition de la Mode in Paris, 1927."

Description of Craftsman, Hollis, R. 1970. Modern Chairs:1918-1970. The Whitechapel Art Gallery, London:
"Mies van der Rohe, Architect. Born Aachen, 1886, died Chicago, 1969. No formal training; worked under the Berlin architects Bruno Paul and Peter Behrens. Own office from 1912, Berlin, etc; first Vice-President to the Deutsch Werkbund 1926-32; director of the Werkbund Housing Exhibit , Stuttgart1927; designed German Pavillion, Barcelona International Exhibition, 1929; director of Bauhaus, Dessau and Berlin 1930-33; went to America 1938 becoming Director, Department of Architecture Illinois Institute of Technology; American citizen 1944. See: Phillip Johnson, Mies Van Der Rohe New York 1947 ; Max Bill, Mies Van Der Rohe Milan 1955; L Hilbersheimer, Mies Van Der Rohe New York, London, 1960; Peter Blake, The Master Builders New York , London 1960 ; W. Blaser, Mies Van Der Rohe London"

CIRC.101-1970