The Chippendale chair is one of nine forms created by Venturi for Knoll in the 1980s. It is inspired by ornate 18th century chairs and named after the famous British designer from the era, Thomas Chippendale. Molded, laminated single sheet plywood is formed into a distinctive shape using techniques pioneered by Alvar Aalto. The playful pattern is named ‘Grandmother’s Tablecloth,’ inspired by a mass produced pattern in the 80s that was owned by a Knoll employee’s grandmother. 

“This furniture breaks the boundary between traditional and Modern design by adapting a series of historical styles to industrial processes... I am for messy vitality over obvious unity. I include the non-sequitur and proclaim duality.” - Robert Venturi