1983 Memphis “First” Chair – Michele De Lucchi, Italy Postmodern Icon

Designed in 1983 by Michele de Lucchi, the ‘First Chair’ is a landmark piece in the Memphis Milano collection as the only original Memphis design to be mass-produced, with an estimated 3,000 units made.

The chair features a dramatic gray varnished metal arc forming the backrest and armrests, supported by two bold black wooden spheres that evoke the image of a planet with its satellites.

This chair has some minor imperfections, so the price is reduced.

Each armchair is authenticated with a stencil manufacturer’s mark to the underside: “Memphis Milano Michele de Lucchi 1983 Made in Italy,” underscoring its genuine origins and association with the Memphis movement.

This particular example was featured in the exhibition “Memphis Milano: 1980s Italian Design” at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, TN, from April 12 to July 13, 2014.