Ply Chair

Jasper Morrison is known for his design philosophy of “Super Normal”, which is perhaps best explained by his statement: “Special is generally less useful than normal, and less rewarding in the long term.” Simplicity and clarity define his work and form a counterpoint to the expressive excess of many products, particularly those of the 1980s. For an installation at the DAAD Galerie in Berlin in 1988, Morrison designed the Ply Chair, a lightweight wooden chair whose understated, precise form subtly recalls the 1940s.

In 1989, Vitra began producing the Ply Chair in both an open and a closed backrest version—Morrison’s first product to be manufactured in series by Vitra. Although the chair was not originally conceived as part of a limited edition, it has gained increasing recognition among collectors of minimalist furniture classics. The example offered in this auction was acquired as New Old Stock directly from inventory.