The Paul Rudolph Rolling Chair Photo: Modulightor
Paul Rudolph’s sketch of the original design
Image: Library of Congress
This chair was designed by Paul Rudolph (1918-1997), one of America’s greatest Modern architects. Rudolph was famous for his strong, expressive forms, powerful spaces, and innovative use of materials & light. A very prolific designer of both architecture and interiors, his active career extended to nearly the end of the 20th century, and across the decades he continued developing his aesthetic and experimenting with space & materials.
Rudolph’s own residences were his “laboratories” for exploring ways to shape space and create dynamic forms. When he was looking for furniture for his own home, he found that there was nothing on the market that would fit well with the interiors he was creating - so he designed his own furniture, of which this chair is a prime example.
Paul Rudolph was thoroughly knowledgeable about design history - and had met many of the leading figures of 20th Century architecture. One can see the roots of this chair’s design in the work of Rietveld and Le Corbusier, both architects greatly admired by Rudolph. But, as with all his work, Rudolph puts his own creative stamp on the design - in this case: using a system of modular components to create furniture of great visual lightness & transparency. In addition, its use of casters makes it very flexible for moving into a variety of room arrangements.
Above: After he designed the chair, Paul Rudolph had an employee produce documentation of the design Images: Library of Congress
Rudolph was intensely interested in the flexibility and efficiency offered by modular systems. Whether it be for the design of a large-scale building, a set of furniture, or a light fixture, he thought architects should “speak the language of modularity.” This chair uses a system of stainless steel tubes & joints, carefully fabricated and assembled, to create a practical piece of furniture and a fine object of design. This same system can be also be used to make other kinds of furniture, and even light fixtures.
NOTE: This chair is made by Modulightor, a company co-founded by Paul Rudolph and Ernst Wagner. This chair is often used in conjunction with other furniture designed by Rudolph: the Rolling Side Table and the Small Side Table. They’re also made by Modulightor and are available, and can be viewed on their website www.modulightor.com If you have any questions about the chair and how to order one, please email us at office@paulrudolphheritagefoundation.org
Specifications:
Title: Paul Rudolph Rolling Chair
Size: Approx. 29-3/8” tall x approx. 28” wide x approx. 22-1/2” deep (Note: All dimensions are approximate.)
Material: Stainless steel, Plexiglas, and casters
Manufactured and Sold By: This Paul Rudolph-designed chair is made and sold by Modulightor - a firm co-founded by Paul Rudolph
Pricing & Availability:
Price: $3,450 Note: a portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Availability: Any quantity is available
Ordering: Must be pre-ordered and pre-paid. Please email office@paulrudolphheritagefoundation.org to order
Lead Time: Approximately 8 weeks, from receipt of paid order
Shipping & Packing: Will depend on the destination. The purchaser can either:
Pick-up the chair at Modulightor’s New York City showroom
Make their own arrangements to have it crated and shipped
Arrange for Modulightor to have it crated and shipped (at additional cost, to be determined based on destination)