Mar 3, 2009

Modernica's new Prince Charles chair


Modernica and artist Peter Shire collaborated to produce a new take on mainstream mid-century design. The Prince Charles Chair ($359-$469) is a special edition chair named for Charles Eames which debuted at Modernica's L.A. showroom this month, I had to see it with my own eyes, so I stopped by while I was in town. Chair-nuts and design enthusiasts will no doubt recognize that The Price Charles "fuses" (I'm using that word loosely) two recognizable styles. To put it plainly, it's an Eames shell chair with Queen Anne-like legs. Artist Peter Shire is responsible for reinventing the design icon, saying “I like to make fun of all the things I’ve had to pay homage to all my life…usually it’s the stuff that insults me but in this case it’s something I’ve grown up with and love.” Shire and Modernica realize the Prince Charles Chair will create a dialogue and likely controversy among designers and purists. What do you think, love it or hate it?

The Prince Charles isn't the only classic Eames design that Shire's gotten a hold of. Shire also altered a set of Eames dining chairs from his parent's house by adding legs, arms, and sculptural elements. It's not hard to see that Shire was part of the Memphis Collective in the early 1980s.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

hate.

hate "witty" design.

hate "fun" design.

hate "ironic" design.

did I mention I hated it?

--anonymous h8r

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure. Certainly not the Memphis. Queen Anne plus Modernica shell? I think I like it. Why not.

Anonymous said...

Speakless, not in a good way.

Anonymous said...

Great post today... I absolutely love the Prince Charles chair and will now obsess about wanting one in white for the next 3 weeks until I realize I have no $$ to spend on such things and move on...

Also, I don't like the look of hanging rattan chairs indoors. Thanks for asking.

Anonymous said...

Hideous. Laughable. What the hell were they thinking/smoking?

Larraine said...

When you can't have fun with design, it's time to find another hobby. Too bad about "hating" witty or ironic or fun design. All those are part of life. Not sure if I want the chair in my home, but it looks kind of comfy in a "witty" way.

Anonymous said...

I think it could totally work in a cute space.

Anonymous said...

should be listed under "Echo Park Crime Watch".

Anonymous said...

fail