Pair of vintage Ombra lounge chairs by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina, 1953

Originally designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953 and produced in very small numbers back in the 50s. The Ombra was inspired by the pure lines and craftsmanship of Japanese furniture making, an inspiration that came to Perriand during the 1940s when she was living in Japan. The Ombra chairs were first displayed at the Tokyo art and furniture exhibition in 1955 where Perriand co-hosted her designs with Le Corbusier and Fernand Léger. The name of the exhibition; Proposition d’une synthèse des arts, Paris 1955. Le Corbusier, Fernand Léger, Charlotte Perriand. Perhaps unsurprising is that the original Ombra chairs are a rarity and have only been produced in very limited numbers as this chair was considered more as a design exercise for Perriand. Cassina realized the potential of this model at the ending of the 90s and reintroduced the model back in 2004. Still nowadays, the chairs are produced in small numbers by Cassina, certifying to their rarity. The chromed steel bended feet have a perfect angle for a lounge chair with a slightly tilted backwards position. They flow into a seamless backrest. This provides for the basic frame. On top of this is a chromed steel base with a square opening where the elastic bands are placed in between. On top of that is the seating cushion and smaller backrest cushion, both interconnected and with zipper construction. Due to the dimensions, the chairs bare a strong similarity to slipper chair models, with a strong depth, low height of 64 cm and low seating height of just 41 cm. Of course the frame is stamped with the official Cassina logo, providing for the authenticity of the chairs. In this specific instance; the chairs have been stamped as no. 00758 and 00776. So it’s likely an early 2000s version. The chairs are in new condition, fully reupholstered in new bouclé fabric. The chrome work is very good. Reference : 248623