The Chandigarh Chair/Le Corbusier/1950
The Chandigarh Chair was designed in the 1950s for the furniture of India's newly planned capital, Chandigarh. However, over time, it was forgotten—only to be rediscovered decades later as a highly sought-after design piece. After India gained independence, the task of designing Chandigarh was given to the renowned architect Le Corbusier. He envisioned not only modernist architecture but also interiors that reflected the same philosophy. For this, he collaborated with his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, who played a crucial role in designing the city's furniture.
Jeanneret’s Chandigarh Chair was crafted using solid teak wood and woven cane, combining local craftsmanship with modernist principles. The design was simple, functional, and well-suited to India's tropical climate. For decades, these chairs were used in government offices, libraries, and public buildings. However, as tastes changed, they were discarded, considered outdated, and many ended up abandoned in warehouses or even dumped as waste.
In the early 2000s, Western design collectors began to take notice of these forgotten chairs. Hundreds of them were rescued from the streets, storage rooms, and scrapyards of Chandigarh, restored, and transported to international design fairs. Almost overnight, what was once considered worthless furniture turned into a prized collector’s item, fetching thousands of dollars at auctions. Today, these once-neglected chairs are displayed in luxury interiors, art galleries, and private collections worldwide.
Pierre Jeanneret’s Chandigarh Chair is now celebrated as a timeless modernist masterpiece—a true example of how great design can transcend time, trends, and even the trash heap.
Comments