Vintage 1980s Cesca Cane Black and Chrome Cantilever Desk Chair After Marcel Breuer

An icon of 20th century furniture design and a chair that really needs very little introduction.

Originally designed by Bauhaus architect and furniture designer Marcel Breuer in 1928, the Cesca chair became one of the defining designs of the modernist movement. Breuer pioneered the use of tubular steel in furniture, creating the distinctive cantilever construction that gives the chair its wonderfully light appearance and gentle flexibility. The chair was later named “Cesca” after Breuer’s daughter Francesca.

Nearly a century after the design was conceived, its appeal is as strong as ever. The combination of natural cane, black framing and polished chrome feels remarkably contemporary and allows these chairs to sit just as comfortably in a modern interior as they do alongside mid century and vintage furniture.

This vintage example was purchased by its previous owner during the 1980s and follows Breuer’s classic Cesca design, with woven natural cane to the seat and back, shaped black wooden frames and the instantly recognisable tubular chrome cantilever base.

It is a particularly well-preserved example. The cane work to both the seat and back remains in very good order, with hardly any sagging and still retaining excellent tension. This is an important consideration when buying a vintage cane chair, where decades of use can often leave the original weave considerably relaxed.

The tubular chrome frame also presents extremely well. It remains bright and clean with no notable rusting, particularly impressive for a chair now around forty years old.

The shaped wooden seat and back frames were originally finished in black, most likely lacquered, and have now been sympathetically refreshed with black paint. The result is a smart, clean finish that works beautifully against the warmth and texture of the natural cane and polished chrome.

Solid, sturdy and fit for purpose, the chair displays only the minor signs of age and previous use one would expect from a genuine vintage piece. Please study the photographs, which form an important part of the condition description.

One of the great successes of Breuer’s design is that it manages to be both visually lightweight and surprisingly comfortable. The tubular steel cantilever construction allows a slight natural flex when seated, while the cane provides a supportive yet forgiving seat.

It also makes a particularly stylish home office or desk chair. For anyone looking to avoid a conventional modern office chair, this offers something considerably more decorative without sacrificing practicality. Equally at home around a dining table, in a bedroom or dressing area, or simply used as an occasional statement chair, it is an exceptionally versatile piece of design.

There are no visible manufacturer’s labels or stamps on this particular example and therefore we make no attribution to a specific manufacturer. It is offered as a vintage 1980s chair made after Marcel Breuer’s celebrated Cesca design.

This listing is for ONE chair.

We regularly have other examples of this iconic design making their way through our workshop, including dining chairs, carver versions and bar stools. If you are looking for a pair, a larger set or a mixture of styles, please message us to see what we currently have available.

Approximate Measurements

Height 79cm
Width 47 cm
Depth 54 cm
Seat height 45 cm

BUT if you don’t know about the Cesca Chair ..............

Marcel Breuer, the Hungarian designer of the cesca cane chair, is considered one of the fathers of modernism. During his career he was a modernist architect, teacher and furniture designer. With comfort in mind, he chose to use one continuous steel tube in a cantilever style. The chair, designed at the Bauhaus, was named “cesca “ as a tribute to Breuer’s adopted daughter, Francesca.

Marcel Breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and become a modern institution. The cantilever form exploits the possibilities unique to the material and gives the chair added flexibility and comfort. This iconic seat features woven cane inserts and a beech frame. Straight lines, curves and high quality materials are the features of the cesca chair; a timeless piece of 20th Century furniture intergrating perfectly with today’s retro mix and attracting collectors of mid century furniture. Very comfortable, thanks to the lightweight metal cantilever structure that make it flexible; a perfect desk or dining chair.

This style was sold in Habitat in the 1970s, although no markings they are recognisable and are shown in some of the brochures from that period. Parker Knoll also took on manufacturing these chairs and were proud enough to stamp their name on them. Even today, they are still being produced by other manufacturers; this is hardly surprising as this is one of the ten most important chairs of the twentieth century.

CONDITION

Please bear in mind that all our vintage and retro items have had a life before you purchase them (sometimes quite a long one!) therefore they will show signs of wear and use, these may include knocks, dents and scratches, bumps and scuffs which are commensurate with age and previous use. We never sell items that we wouldn’t be happy to have in our own homes and provide images detailing any significant damage or unusual wear. Please carefully read the details and examine the images prior to purchase. All our items have been thoroughly cleaned and de-greased, re-oiled and polished (where necessary) and are fit for purpose. If you’re unsure, or would like some more information, please contact us, we’re always happy to help.

OUR DELIVERY POLICY

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PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU PURCHASE FROM AN OFF-SITE ADVERT FOR ETSY, FREE DELIVERY WILL NOT APPLY (AS WE ARE CHARGED CONSIDERABLY MORE).

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Wherever possible, we try to offer free kerbside delivery, contact-free, to most mainland UK addresses, either by ourselves or via our dedicated, trusted, couriers. This ensures that your purchases arrive in exactly the condition they were in when you purchased them, as accurately described on our site. You should expect delivery to be within 1 to 3 weeks of you placing the order. We will contact you directly with a firm delivery date and advise you in advance of a two hour delivery window.

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Free delivery does not apply to locations a long way away from our location in Cambridge or to areas of mainland UK not routinely covered by our trusted couriers - if this applies to your purchase, we will simply charge you what we are charged for delivery, less any Etsy fees, and notify you of this as soon as practicable after the sale goes through.

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