Vermelha

Overview

Vermelha is a wrap-around armchair by Fernando and Humberto Campana. Edra builds its open body on a steel frame, using rope to form both the chair's structure and seating surface.

Construction

About 500 metres of special rope are used. The rope has an acrylic core covered in cotton; it is first woven onto the frame, then knotted through consecutive overlaps to create the free interlacement identified with the Campana brothers. Edra states that the process demands several days of specialised manual work.

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

Specifications

• Model: CTV010 armchair
• Overall dimensions: 82 cm wide × 65 cm deep × 77 cm high
• Seat height: 41 cm
• Structure: epoxy-lacquered steel
• Feet: glazed aluminium

From a roll of rope

Edra Magazine recounts that the Campana brothers left a roll of rope on their studio table until its tangled state suggested a chair. Fernando drew a fork-like metal structure while Humberto began the interlacing.

From prototype to production

In 1998, Edra art director Massimo Morozzi saw Vermelha in Mel Byars's book 50 Chairs and contacted the brothers in São Paulo. Humberto recalled making at least twenty versions by hand before Edra produced the chair in Italy. After its presentation at the Milan Furniture Fair that year, Vermelha entered the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. Edra later developed the rope quality and marked the chair's twentieth anniversary with a metallic version.

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