This is quite an incredible set of chairs! Designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll and introduced in 1961. Named the I 48 Stacking Chair, it is comprised of a shell of fiberglass with black Naugahyde upholstery on a steel shaft base with four pronged feet which have an off white textured paint. There is a split in the seat for stacking purposes. Quite innovative and unique. Each chair is marked in some way; one has both the small Knoll sticker and the larger fabric tag, two have only the small Knoll sticker, and one has only the larger fabric tag. The fabric tag reads: Art Metal – Knoll Corp. Knoll Associates Division.
Richard Schultz began his career with Knoll in 1951 by working with Harry Bertoia on the development and production of the Bertoia Wire Collection. His first design on his own at Knoll was his graceful Petal Table in 1960 which received the design award from Industrial Design Magazine. He went on to not only design these beautiful chairs but to design, at Florence Knoll’s urging, his aluminum Leisure collection. Richard Schultz was an integral part of Knoll for many years.
These awesome chairs will look perfect around just about any mid-century modern dining table. You should make them yours.
