Sidechair, model B5

THE B5 CHAIR IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST DESIGNS EMPLOYING TUBULAR STEEL. IN SPITE OF THE CONVENTIONAL DESIGN, BREUER AVOIDED BANALITY BY EXTENDING THE CONTINUOUS LINE OF THE FRONT LEGS, SIDE RAILS AND SLED RUNNERS AROUND THE STILES AND REAR LEGS IN A TAUT COMPOSITION. THIS PARTICULAR TREATMENT OF THE SEAT ANTICIPATES HIS LATER CANTILEVERED DESIGNS, FOR WERE THE SEAT OF THE B5 NOT SECURED TO THE STILES WITH BOLTS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BREUER'S FIRST USE OF THE CANTILEVER PRINCIPLE. HOWEVER, HE INCORPORATED THE B5'S CUBIC ARRANGEMENT OF MASS IN HIS MORE RADICAL CANTILEVER DESIGNS INTRODUCED LATER ON (COMPARE WITH PREVIOUS LOT). BREUER HIMSELF CHOSE TO INCORPORATE THE B5 IN MANY OF HIS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERIORS AFTER 1928. THESE INCLUDED THE PISCATOR APARTMENT IN BERLIN (COMPARE ILLUSTRATION IN BENT WOOD AND METAL FURNITURE, OP CIT., P. 273, FIG. 69A).

CHROME-PLATED TUBULAR STEEL, CANVAS
327/8 IN. (83.5 CM) HIGH

LITERATURE:
ALEXANDER VON VEGESACK, ED., THONET TUBULAR STEEL FURNITURE, FIRST COMPLETE CATALOGUE COLLECTION OF GERMAN AND FRENCH MODELS 1930-1931, (REPUBL. WEIL AM RHEIN, 1989), N.P.