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Ball Chair, white - green
Description
The Ball Chair was designed by Eero Aarnio in 1963. Presented to the world at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne in 1966, it quickly became Aarnio's international breakthrough and an icon of the 1960's space age. Eero Aarnio has always been fascinated by new materials and round shapes – one of his favourite materials is fibreglass, which gives the chair a free, elastic shape. The round shell of the Ball Chair is simple yet ingenious, and has often been referred to as a “room in a room”.
The Ball Chair is one of the best-known classics of Finnish design, even though its modernist, futuristic design differs from the natural and minimalist Scandinavian design traditions. The Ball Chair can be found in the collections of several design museums around the world, and through the years, it has also made numerous pop culture cameos in films, music videos and magazine covers.
The Ball Chair was updated in 2021 and upholstered with a wool blend fabric specially developed for the chair. The iconic piece comes in an array of colour combinations, but a white shell with black upholstery has been reported to be Aarnio's personal favourite: according to him, the fabric looks like a mysterious, unknown substance spreading out inside the chair.
- Width: 105 cm
- Depth: 98 cm
- Height: 120 cm
- Seat height: 37 cm
- Colour White, dark green
- Material Fiberglass, aluminium, steel
- Seat cushion Polyethylene foam, natural latex
- Upholstery fabric EA2021 Green 06: 80% wool, 20% polyamide
- Abrasion resistance 100,000 Martindale
- Weight 42 kg
- Notes For the Ball Chair to fit through your door, the doorway must be at least 79 cm wide and there must be an unobstructed 127.3 cm path on both sides of the door.
- Product ID: EAEE202106
Eero Aarnio (born 1932) is a Finnish designer and honorary professor, widely regarded as one of the great innovators and trailblazers of modern furniture design. Over the course of his career, Aarnio has experimented with a wide range of materials, including plastic, fibreglass and foam. From these materials, he created some of the most iconic pieces in Finnish furniture design, such as the Ball Chair (1962), the Bubble Chair (1968) and the Pastil Chair (1968).
Eero Aarnio – a colourful pioneer of modern design
Eero Aarnio is one of the most internationally recognised names in Finnish design and one of its boldest visionaries.
Graduating from the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki in 1957, Aarnio is known for his fearless forms, innovative use of new materials and a strong visual identity. His design blends technical experimentation with a sense of joy, resulting in objects that are both functional and sculptural.
Joyful futurism
In the 1960s, Eero Aarnio began experimenting with new materials, particularly fibreglass and plastic, which enabled entirely new kinds of furniture design – giving rise to classics such as the Ball Chair, Bubble Chair and Pastil. Aarnio is also known for his lighting designs, including the Double Bubble collection.
Aarnio is equally skilled in working with more traditional materials, as demonstrated by the wooden Rocket bar stool. His versatile command of materials has been a defining element throughout his long career.
A playful master of Finnish design
Aarnio’s work is characterised by curiosity and a desire to explore the new, resulting in designs that radiate positivity and good humour – perhaps most clearly seen in playful pieces like the Puppy and Kisu figures.
Aarnio’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MoMA in New York, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He has received numerous prestigious design awards, such as the Compasso d’Oro and the Red Dot Design Award.
Who: Eero Aarnio
- Finnish designer (born 1932).
- Education: Institute of Industrial Arts, Helsinki (1957).
- Founded his own design studio in 1962.
- His design language is defined by playfulness, bold colours and innovative materials, particularly plastic.
- Notable designs: Ball Chair, Bubble Chair, Pastil (Eero Aarnio Originals), Rocket stool (Artek), Puppy (Magis).
Read more on Design Stories
- Eero Aarnio, iconic designer and father of the Ball Chair: “Apply yourself and believe in yourself” >
Ideas and inspiration
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