Cesca Chair

Overview

The Cesca Chair is Marcel Breuer's cantilevered chair of 1928: a seamless tubular steel frame carries the seat in one continuous line. It comes with arms (50A) or without (51C), and with woven cane, with upholstery, or with a cane seat under an upholstered back.

Construction

• Seat and back of hardwood beech with woven cane inserts, or of molded plywood with a foam cushion and leather or fabric upholstery
• Frame of seamless 1" diameter tubular steel, either polished chrome or ultra-matte powder-coated in three colours introduced in 2024
• Plastic floor glides snap onto the base to protect floors
• The Knoll logo and Breuer's signature are stamped on the frame

Specifications

• Armchair 50A: W 23½" × D 23½" × H 31½" (597 × 597 × 800 mm), seat height 17¾", arm height 27"
• Armless chair 51C: W 18½", D 23½", H 31½", seat height 17¾" on the design-plan page

From the Wassily to a single line of steel

Knoll's product story says that after the Wassily, Breuer felt the grace of tubular steel was not yet fully used. In the Cesca he cut visual noise down to one continuous line of steel that carries a cantilevered seat, a concept Knoll calls one of the most copied of the twentieth century. The company says the cantilever also gives the chair extra flexibility and comfort.

Image source: Knoll — Cesca Chair · © Knoll and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Named for Breuer's daughter

Knoll's shop says the chair was first known as the B32. It was later renamed the Cesca after Breuer's daughter, Francesca.