Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí, designed the Battló chair in the early 20th century, which he gained inspiration for from the curvilinear naturalism of Art Nouveau.
About Casa Battló
In 1906, Gaudí, the creator of the Battlò chair, finished working on Casa Batlló. This characteristic building, located on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia, became one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. Moreover, Gaudì changed the appearance of the building, revolutionizing the main façade, expanding the central courtyard and raising two floors that were not present in the original building. Additionally, on the first floor there were stables, later used as warehouses, and a common hall. The first floor of the building, also called the noble floor, was used as the home of the Batlló family.
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About Gaudi’s Furniture
BD Barcelona was the first company to start the mass production of Gaudì’s furniture. In addition, this company used traditional artistic and craft techniques and the same materials (lacquered solid oak) to reproduce all the rich details displayed in the originals when they were first made.
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Unlike what happened with most of the modernist furniture that eventually went out of style, furniture designed by Gaudí is timeless. Perhaps this is because his pieces look more like sculptures than just benches or chairs.
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/179a3c3f-bd52-4dc8-b94b-3823b651e38b by MarkDoliner
The Battló Chair
The Battló chair, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is made of solid varnished oak and is part of the series of furniture designed by Gaudí for Casa Batlló. Also, the furniture Gaudí originally designed for the main dining room is preserved at the Gaudí Museum in the Park Güell.
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The Battlò chair was one of the first signs of ergonomic furniture. The circular voids situated on each side of the back which could make us think of a light decoration, are functional cutouts that help to move the chair in case of need. The backrest follows the contour of the seat to balance the symmetry of the structure. It is made of a solid varnished oak chair. Thanks to the shape, it adapts to the position of the body. Moreover, the aestheticism of this chair, based on simplicity, escapes the straight lines.
Data Sheet
Designer: Antoni Gaudí
Year: 1906
Size: 74 x 52 x 47 cm
Material: lacquered solid oak
Manufacturer: BD Furniture
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Info sources:
http://www.gaudibarcelonashop.com
