Chair Database
Handkerchief Chair
Designed by:
Vignelli M
Co-Designed by:
Vignelli L
Designer:
Massimo Vignelli
Co-Designer:
Lella Vignelli
Date of Design:
1983-85
Date of Manufacture:
1985
Decade:
1980s
Region:
Europe
Significance:
Elegant stacking chair, seat originally intended tube made from metal
Manufacturer:
Knoll Associates
Material:
Polyester
Process:
Pressure moulded
Monobloc:
No
Cantilever:
No
Renewable Carbon:
No
Weight:
Note:
Country of origin: Italy (designer), USA (manufacturer). Image: Knoll. The designers originally worked with British company Hille to develop a chair using stamped metal. However, all the presses were being used to make car parts forcing the designers to search for another solution. It took Knoll several years to develop the compression moulding technology needed to produce the thin shell of the chair and the resultant design is heavier than originally envisaged. The stackable Handkerchief is still available from Knoll, with or without arms and a table was latter added to the range. The shell is made from compression-moulded, fiberglass-reinforced polyester with a urethane paint finish resting on a 7/16” (1.1 cms) steel wire base.