Design Objects - The PROUST CHAIR (1978) by Alessandro Mendini

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Dearest Design Enthusiasts, welcome back to my blog’s page!

In this new article you’re about to read here on my blog is about an iconic armchair, a re-incarnation of the bold baroque style, Alessandro Mendini’s “Proust” armchair (often referred to simply as the “Proust Chair”) - one of the most celebrated icons of Italian Postmodern design (1978).

This timeless design chair encapsulates Mendini’s playful yet deeply conceptual approach to furniture. First of all, it is to mentioned that Mendini was fascinated by the idea of memory, time, and subjective experience—central themes in Marcel Proust’s writing. Naming the chair “Proust” signaled a deep connection to literary exploration and the passage of time. Moreover, Mendini was part of Studio Alchimia, a collective that questioned the rigid norms of modernism. Therefore, Proust Chair became a symbol of the artist, a way to express rough decorative surfaces, historical references, and deliberate irony.

Mendini started with a classic 18th-century Baroque armchair form with elaborate, flowing lines, cabriole legs, and a sculptural wooden frame. Then, he added the most distinctive feature on surface decoration by adorning both, the fabric, and the wooden frame, with a hand-painted “pointillist” or “divisionist” pattern—thousands of tiny colored dots. This was inspired by Post-Impressionist painters, among whom we can mention Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and other.

The result? – An armchair like no other, a piece as a kind of “collage,” fusing a historic shape with avant-garde painting. By merging a centuries-old silhouette with modern art references, he aimed to create an object that carries multiple eras within it—an embodiment of his Postmodern philosophy.

The Proust chair was showcased in avant-garde exhibitions in Italy and quickly captured international attention. Critics praised it for its wit, depth, and craftsmanship, becoming a well-known iconic design object.

Over the years, Prout Chair by Mendini was produced by various manufacturers, including the Italian companies like Cappellini (www.cappellini.com) and Magis (www.magisdesign.com), where we can find today’s updates and re-editions: the first one proposing this chair with wooden frame and upholstering in fabric, while the second one is offering it in a rotational-moulded polyethylene for outdoor use.

2 1 Cappellini

2 2 Cappellini

3 Magis   options colori

The original Proust armchair was born from Alessandro Mendini’s desire to create a piece that was simultaneously a tribute to history, a nod to literature, and an experiment in painterly decoration. By blending a lavish Baroque form with hand-applied pointillist, Mendini crafted more than just a chair—he crafted an expressive narrative object that invites its owner (and viewers) to reflect on art, time, memory, and beauty.

Enjoy Good Design and Made in Italy quality!

With my best wishes,

Nadiya 

MetropolitanMe Blogger