Silver

Overview

Silver is a chair designed by Vico Magistretti in 1989 and produced by De Padova. Inspired by the proportions of the classic Thonet chair, it translates that archetype into tubular aluminium and polypropylene. De Padova describes it as comfortable, lightweight and durable, at home both around a dining table and as an office chair.

Construction

The frame of legs, backrest and armrests is tubular aluminium, offered satin anodized, polished anodized, or powder-coated matt white or matt black, with thermoplastic feet. The seat frame is die-cast aluminium. Seat and backrest are polypropylene (fire-reaction Class 1) or polished anodized aluminium, perforated with the chair's characteristic square grid. An optional seat cushion in polyurethane foam and polyester wadding has a removable fabric cover.

Specifications

The chair without armrests measures 45 × 51 × 80 cm (W × D × H) with a 46 cm seat height; the version with armrests is 61 cm wide with 67 cm arm height. Silver is a complete seating system: chairs with or without armrests, a stackable version (up to six chairs), a swivel chair on castors, a stool, multiple beam-mounted seating and accessories such as a writing tablet, transport cart and side-by-side connection hook.

A Thonet chair for the modern age

Vico Magistretti took the proportions of the classic bentwood Thonet chair as his starting point and rebuilt them in industrial materials: tubular aluminium for the frame and polypropylene for the seat and backrest, with a grid of square perforations recalling woven cane.

From dining room to office

De Padova presents Silver as more than a chair: a seating system. Many around a table make dining chairs; one or two become an office chair thanks to the streamlined design; and stools, swivel bases and beam seating extend it to contract interiors.