SE 18 Folding Chair: A Masterpiece of Functional Design

The SE 18 Folding Chair, designed by Egon Eiermann in 1952, is a shining example of post-war German ingenuity in functional and affordable furniture design. Germany, reeling from the devastation of World War II, entered the market for inexpensive folding chairs somewhat late. However, the SE 18 quickly established itself as an international success, a testament to Eiermann’s innovative design and the skilled craftsmanship of Wilde & Spieth.

Design and Innovation

Egon Eiermann, one of Germany’s foremost architects, designed the SE 18 Folding Chair in three months. This rapid development period speaks volumes about Eiermann’s vision and ability to meet the practical demands of the time. The chair’s standout feature is its practical folding mechanism, which combines aesthetic simplicity with mechanical ingenuity.

The chair’s rear and front legs are fixed to each other with a swivel mechanism, and a strut underneath the seat runs down grooves in the rear legs. This design allows the legs to pull forward when the seat is folded and acts as a stop when unfolded. This simple yet effective mechanism ensures the chair is easy to use and store.

Material and Construction

Crafted from smooth beechwood and moulded plywood, the SE 18’s robust construction ensured its durability. Its minimal storage space requirement was ideal for various settings, including canteens, school halls, and council chambers. The SE 18 was available in natural beech and stained black, offering a versatile aesthetic fitting into numerous environments.

Cultural Impact and Recognition

The SE 18’s significance in design history is underscored by its inclusion in exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the College of Design in Ulm, and its representation at the World Exposition in Brussels in 1958. These accolades highlight the chair’s importance as a design object and its role in the evolution of modern furniture design.

Eiermann’s collaboration with Wilde & Spieth yielded numerous variations of the SE 18, with thirty models produced until Eiermann died in 1970. Today, the business continues to manufacture nine of these models, a testament to the original design’s timeless appeal and enduring functionality.

Awards and Accolades

The SE 18 Folding Chair won The Good Design Award at MoMA in 1953 and the silver medal at the Triennale in Milan in 1954. These prestigious awards further cement the chair’s status as a paragon of design excellence.

Visual References

Imagine a chair that, when folded, occupies minimal space but transforms into a sturdy and stylish piece of furniture when unfolded. The SE 18, with its sleek beechwood finish and streamlined form, embodies the minimalist ethos of mid-century modern design. Its presence in prestigious design collections worldwide attests to its aesthetic and functional brilliance.

Sources

1000 Design Classics. (2022). Germany: Phaidon Press.

Wilde + Spieth. (n.d.). SE 18 Folding Chair. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.wilde-spieth.com/en/classic-collection/se-18-folding-chair

More on Chair Design