Here at Myakka, we talk and think about furniture every day. We search high and low for inspiration so we can design the best pieces of furniture for our customers. To this end we thought it would be interesting to compile a list of some of the most iconic and classic pieces out there.
A design classic is a truly iconic home accessory or piece of furniture that is both inspirational and engaging to have in your home as well as a talking point for guests. While trend pieces may appeal, few stand the test of time. You can’t go wrong with a design classic.
Some great furniture designers to look out for include Isamu Noguchi, Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Hermann Miller and Arne Jacobsen. Here is a guide to what we consider is the top 10 most iconic furniture pieces and home accessories from the last century:
1. The Egg Chair designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958 is the epitome of 60s modernism. Originally designed for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, the chair’s full, sculptural shape is typical of classic Danish design.
2. The next iconic piece was first introduced in 1947 by legendary Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi: The Noguchi Coffee Table has become famous for its organic form and unmistakeable simplicity.
3. If you have a small space to occupy and want to avoid large pieces of furniture, why not add a classic touch with an accessory? Designed by George Nelson in 1948, the Ball Clock is one of the most iconic timepieces around. Fun, whimsical and modern, the clock makes an instant statement on any wall.
4. Another one of the most recognisable pieces of modern furniture is the Barcelona Chair. This stylish and elegant chair feels perfectly at home in any contemporary space with its sleek lines and timeless aesthetic.
5. A modern lighting classic, Achille Castiglioni’s Arco Floor Lamp, designed in 1962 is instantly recognisable by its dramatic stainless steel arc and heavy marble base. A statement in any space, the Arco Lamp will tower over your sofa or dining table providing light whilst adding sculptural significance.
6. The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman was originally designed with simplicity and practicality in mind. Designed in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames, the set has visible influences from the 1920s and the transition into the industrial, modern era. Its classic design has made the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman and icon in the furniture world and has kept the piece in production since its creation.
7. Frank Lloyd Wright is one the most celebrated architects and designers and his organic designs are desired worldwide – even Simon and Garfunkel have sung about him! His Allen Table is as robust as it looks and reflects his influences from the Orient. This is sure to sit as a centrepiece in any dining room and immediately gives the area a sense of style.
8. Like so many of Florence Knoll’s ground-breaking designs that became the gold standard for the industry, the 1961 executive collection, including this Credenza, has made its way into the pantheon of modern classics.
9. The Piva Bed, named after its designer Pablo Piva, is made in the fashionable minimalist style and caters for the multi-functionalist. Its main feature is a wooden shelf which is movable from the foot to the head of the bed and can act as a desk for those who work in their sleep!
10. Phillipe Starck is one of the designers leading the way in modern furniture design, with many of his pieces already gaining iconic status. Modern designer furniture is all about extravagance and making a statement which leads to our last furniture icon: The Horse Lamp. Ironic and playful, love it or hate it, the Horse Lamp will be a talking point in any home.
Whether it’s a Horse Lamp, Noguchi Coffee Table or Arco Lamp that takes your fancy, an iconic piece of furniture is an investment that will keep your space stylish for decades to come.
