fit for a king.

this „palace“ chair doesn’t really feel royal – but very „memphis“. no wonder, because its designer, george j. sowden, was a founding member of the famous memphis group, who caused a sensation in the eighties. born in leeds, but living in italy, he joined the olivetti studio, then led by ettore sottsass. in 1981 they founded „memphis“ together with more young and aspiring designers (michele de lucchi, alessandro mendini, matteo thun and nathalie du pasquier, to name just a few). the group rapidly turned into a cultural phenomenon, rebelling against the predominant „good taste“ of the time.

sowden was especially fascinated with colour as a vital form of communication and life. many of his objects bring joy to furniture design – which often lacked in the dogmatic  „form-follows-function“ mantra. in 1983 he developed the „palace“ chair for the 3rd memphis exhibition, often described as a melange of british arts & crafts heritage and dutch „de stijl“-design.

the chair is made of wood and plywood, lacquered in black with blue legs and yellow and turqoise details.