Ludwig Mies van der Rohe made his lasting mark on the furniture world with his creation of the Barcelona Chair in 1929. The long venerated chair derives its name from its original debut at the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, a long awaited economic-boosting "exposition de talents" for Spain. Mies van der Rohe was undoubtedly most famous for his then directorship of Dessau's esteemed and progressive Bauhaus. Per Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius' teachings, Mies van der Rohe created a chair that would unequivocally emblematize Bauhaus furniture.

Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona Chair, 1929

So, how would one characterize the physical attributes of this groundbreaking chair, before it garnered its appeal? Simply, sleek, ergonomic, functional, and hopefully enduring - the enduring piece was more than realized. Taking a seat in this work of art, funny to actually put that in a sentence, you notice not only the comfort and intuitive design, but the minute details. Starting with the seating surface, Mies specified the incorporation of Spinneybeck leather, with each individual panel being hand-cut and hand-welted, not to mention the whole chair may only be cut from a single hide. The chair's stainless steal frame stands firmly as it is a single-piece construction, while also providing the ultimate durability. The designer then took the frame's construction a step further by requiring the steel be hand burnished to a mirror finish. The finishing touch comes by way of Mies van der Rohe's signature stamped into every piece crafted.
In the pretentious world of the furniture "who's who," Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Chair sits atop the metaphorical throne. As one fictional furniture aficionado, Asterios Polyp, would say he's not a "pseudo-someone," and by having a chair as esteemed as the Barcelona Chair one sets their tastes apart. As with most all things wonderful, one must have the means. A prospective buyer would need to cough up $7,740 for an exclusively manufactured piece according to the designer's specifications. Not to mention, this hefty price-tag doesn't include the chair's paired ottoman. Yet, pretentious aspirations aside, the chair really would make a room, as well as a considerable conversation piece.