MID-CENTURY MODERN MILLA CHAIR

Marcel Breuer's Milla Chair. A higher-quality reproduction of the original specifications and features. Inspired by the handlebars of the vintage "Adler Bicycles," the Milla Chair is an icon of modern Bauhaus design. Many purists refer to this chair as the model B3. Like the original, this Milla reproduction uses materials designed to exceed the structure demands of long term daily use such as the 3 mm thick steel frame, 6 mm thick pure cowhide leather, and high strength load-bearing bolts. Faithfully, reproducing this iconic design means including all features of the original, some of which provide durability, appearance-related and some others act as both.

REPRODUCING THE MODERNIST ICON

The Milla Chair was designed in, and the first chair built in 1925. It was originally named the model B3 and was inspired by the bent handlebars of Marcel’s “Adler Bicycle." A google search for “Adler bicycle,” provides some great pictures of the design. You can see the inspiration for the flowing frame in the handlebars of the antique bikes. The B3 chair design consists of a bent tubular steel chromed frame, similar to the bicycle forward and then backward flowing design. The Frame of the chair continuously flows from the floor up to the arm. The arms, sides, seat, and back of the chair are crafted from thick bonded cowhide leather. Sitting in the chair, tilts your body backward at an angle, roughly 20 degrees. The weight of the occupant is shared among the lower and upper back-straps, as well as the tension suspended leather seat platform. No cushions are used in the design and none are needed. The tension created by the various suspended leather platforms holds the seated form of your body to the structure of your chair. Essentially, one is supported or suspended over the platforms, which are attached at both ends of the frame.

The chair has an unmistakable industrial appearance. At first glance, the mix of angles and materials gives a rather complicated impression. Studying the flow of the tubular frame and the connection of the leather platforms reveals the designs true simplicity. The Milla chair took on the name Milla after Italian furniture manufacturer gave the chair a rebirth of a sort in the 1960s by reproducing the original chair design. Milla was the last name of Marcel Breuer’s painter. Marcel built a Milla chair in his 30’s and learned how fond Milla was of the design. The name Milla Chair caught hold, however purists refer to the chair as perhaps it is rightfully named, the b3 Breuer Chair.