MR Chair

Overview

The MR Chair is the armless side chair of Knoll's MR Collection (model 256CS). Knoll's design-plan page dates it 1927 and offers it with a handwoven rattan seat or a cowhide seat on a cantilevered tubular steel frame.

Construction

• Seamless 1 in diameter tubular steel frame, finished in polished chrome or ultra-matte powder coat
• Seat of handwoven natural rattan under a clear lacquer, or of heavyweight, full-grain belting leather
• Cantilevered seat that gently bounces with the sitter
• Four plastic glides with twin-pin snap-in construction; the chair comes fully assembled

Specifications

• W 19¼" × D 27¼" × H 31" (489 × 692 × 787 mm); seat height 18" (457 mm)
• Weight 17 lb

The first MR chair

Knoll's shop page says Mies van der Rohe created the MR Chair in 1927 and describes a curved, cantilevered structure that flexes to support the movements of the sitter. The cut sheet adds that this first chair led to a series of cantilevered forms, among them a side chair and an armchair.

Rights to produce the MR Series

The shop page records that in 1948 Mies granted Knoll exclusive rights to produce his furniture, including the MR Series. The chair is offered by Knoll with a rattan or a cowhide seat.