Modern Icons: The Butterfly Chair
Add Curves and Color Indoors and Out With the 1940s-Style Butterfly Chair
It's been cheaply imitated all over the world for since the 1950s, but did you know that The Butterfly Chair has a revered spot in The Knoll Museum and is part of MoMA's permanent collection? Designed by Argentinian architect Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy in 1938, it is also known as the BKF Chair* and the Hardoy Chair. His original version was introduced to the world in 1940; the legs were enameled steel and the cover was leather. Every now and then, I spy this icon around Houzz. Let's take a peek.
Want to dress up your Butterfly? Take a cue from The Brick House and throw a little sheepskin over it.
Because they are so lightweight, Butterflies can easily be dragged outdoors and back in again.
It looks like someone has made himself very comfortable in a Butterfly on the balcony here. I'm jealous!
Colorful Marimekko KIVET fabric adorns these cheerful butterflies. Don't you just love the way they stand out against the colors in the landscape?
A pair of white Butterflies fits nicely on a small balcony.
In fact, although this chair is strong enough to stand on its own, it always looks charming in a pair. I can almost picturing these two flapping their wings and flying up into this large, light, open room.
A Butterfly makes a nice, light occasional chair when you don’t want to overwhelm the room with another large piece of furniture.
Have you ever owned one of these? I remember one of my roommates having some $40 knockoff version in college. It was quite comfortable, but we’d always wind up sitting in the weirdest positions in it.
If you have a vintage shot of you in your butterfly chair, we’d love to see it!
Next: More modern home design photos
Have you ever owned one of these? I remember one of my roommates having some $40 knockoff version in college. It was quite comfortable, but we’d always wind up sitting in the weirdest positions in it.
If you have a vintage shot of you in your butterfly chair, we’d love to see it!
Next: More modern home design photos
These bright Butterfly chairs add curves and color to this boxy modern building.