One Hundred Years of Eileen Gray’s Bibendum Chair

One hundred years after it was first designed, Eileen Gray’s Bibendum chair remains one of the most iconic works of modern design. This year, to mark the anniversary, we are launching a limited edition series of 100 individually numbered pieces in a special finish made exclusively for the centenary.

Designed in 1926, the Bibendum chair was created during a pivotal period in Gray’s career, as her work increasingly reflected architectural thinking and a rigorous engagement with modern materials. The chair takes its name from Bibendum, the Michelin Man, whose segmented, rounded form is clearly echoed in the chair’s sculptural backrest. At the time, Bibendum was a widely recognised cultural figure, symbolising modernity, industry and progress, qualities that closely aligned with Gray’s own approach to design.

Composed of a stack of cylindrical cushions, combined with a generous upholstered seat and supported by a tubular steel base, the Bibendum balances physical comfort with clear expression of structure, an approach that was highly unconventional at the time. Its scale and visual presence challenge many assumptions associated with early modern furniture, while its use of industrial materials places it firmly within the modernist context of the interwar period.

The Bibendum chair is closely associated with E-1027, the villa designed by Eileen Gray between 1926 and 1929. A reconstructed version of the chair sits in the villa today, based on Gray’s original drawings and period photographs. Reflecting an early prototype it differs in material and proportion from later iterations, offering insight into the chair’s development and its place within Gray’s broader architectural thinking.

Throughout the late 1920s and 1930s, Gray incorporated the Bibendum chair into some of her most significant interiors, including her 1933 commission for fashion entrepreneur Juliette Lévy. Early versions were upholstered in fabric or skai, a leather-like vinyl, and exhibited at Gray’s Jean Désert gallery in Paris. Today, original examples are exceptionally rare. Only two are known to remain in private ownership, with the majority held in museum collections, reinforcing the Bibendum’s status as one of Gray’s most sought-after designs.

Our relationship with Eileen Gray’s work dates to 1973, when she collaborated with Zeev Aram to introduce her designs to the world market and granted Aram the worldwide head licence to produce and market her work. Established during Gray’s lifetime, this collaboration laid the foundation for a long-term commitment to the careful production and stewardship of her designs, a licence we are honoured to continue to hold today.

To mark the centenary,  the Bibendum Chair 100 Years Limited Edition has been produced in close collaboration with ClassiCon, sublicensee for Eileen Gray designs outside the UK. Each chair is upholstered in Sørensen Duet nubuck gold leather, selected for its depth, softness and ability to develop a subtle patina over time. The nickel-finished steel base echoes the tone and lustre of early versions of the design, while remaining appropriate to contemporary interiors. Every piece is individually stamped with its unique edition number out of 100.

Reflecting on the significance of the centenary edition, Daniel Aram, Managing Director of Aram, comments:

“The Bibendum chair has always held a special position within Eileen Gray’s work and in the broader history of design. For this centenary edition, we carefully selected materials and finishes that evoke early examples, and this, together with the individually numbered frame stamp, provides collectors with something truly unique.”