Ball chair
designed (1963-1965); manufactured (1960s)
Medium
fibreglass, fabric, polyurethane foam, painted aluminium, zip, (other materials)
Measurements
(a-c) 121.0 × 111.0 × 97.0 cm (overall)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2005
© Courtesy of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Believing that designers should make use of current technologies wherever possible, Eero Aarnio began experimenting with fibreglass and synthetic materials during the mid 1960s. This led to his most famous series of designs, including the innovative Ball and Pastil chairs. Aarnio’s Ball chair functions as a micro-environment by totally enveloping the sitter. His novel and visually exciting designs represented bold seating solutions that embraced the spirit of the 1960s and demonstrated his conscious shunning of traditional chair forms. Aarnio’s designs possess an internationalism and a strong originality, while retaining a traditional Scandinavian concern for quality and durability.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Lahti, Finland
Inscription
(a) cast in relief on underside of front of globe c.: a / ASKO / Finnternational / DESIGN / EERO AARNIO (all in a rectangle)
Accession Number
2005.572.a-c
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited