This chair, inspired by classic bentwood furniture, was initially produced only in a small series in 1952 due to high manufacturing costs. The bent horizontal backrest ended in a pointed tip on either side of the two vertical braces. The tips, like the ends of the chair legs, were fitted with contrasting walnut caps. The chair had eight holes for attaching a cushion to the seat. In 1957 Lawrence Plycraft offered to make the chair more cheaply for Herman Miller. As a result, it was reintroduced in 1958, now also with its distinctive armrests, as model Nos. 5890 and 5891. Around one hundred of these new chairs were made, most in walnut with a few in birch. However, production was stopped after Miller and Plycraft fell out. Plycraft then launched a similar chair, developed in collaboration with Norman Cherner.3 There were to be two more revivals of the Pretzel Chair: the first officially named ‘Pretzel Chair’ by Nelson and the Italian firm De Padova in 19864 and a second in 2008, when Vitra produced a limited edition of 1,000 copies for the centenary of Nelson’s birth.
Text: Jochen Eisenbrand
