Herman Miller Revives Pieces Created By Original Design Director After 80 Years
Image via MillerKnoll
Herman Miller is turning back the clock with a stylish revival. The brand has unveiled the Rohde Collection, bringing back mid-century classics that celebrate the legacy of Gilbert Rohde, its first design director who revolutionized furniture design.
Rohde, who stepped into his historic role in 1932, was a visionary. In the 1940s, he was the one who showed America that furniture didn’t have to be stuffy and traditional. Inspired by the abstract art movement, he swapped straight lines for curves and freeform shapes, giving birth to a biomorphist style that’s still influencing designers today.
Two standout pieces from his era, the Rohde Easy Chair and Rohde Paldao Table, are making a grand return after more than 80 years.
The Rohde Easy Chair, characterized by its rounded back and enveloping seat, set a new standard in comfort and style. Its craftsmanship is exceptional, featuring diamond-patterned tufts across the seat and back, and expertly upholstered materials.
Image via Herman Miller
The chair is now available in a variety of plush fabrics and premium leathers, including options from Maharam, a top textile brand within the MillerKnoll collective. The solid wood legs come in walnut or oak.
The Rohde Paldao Table, on the other hand, is celebrated for its freeform, organic shape and luxurious wood finishes. Available as a coffee table and in two side table height options, it features burl wood cut in walnut and oak, as well as a flat wood cut in ebonized ash. This table’s design exemplifies Rohde’s ability to blend functionality with artistic expression.
Image via Herman Miller
“Rohde set Herman Miller on its path as a pioneer of modern design and, in doing so, effectively introduced modern furniture design to the United States. His uniquely American perspective brought warmth, new materials, and bold forms to the discipline—elements which remain central to Herman Miller design today,” shares Noah Schwarz, vice president of product design for Herman Miller. “We’re pleased to reintroduce Rohde's 1941 Easy chair, and Paldao occasional tables. We believe both designs feel as relevant today as they did 83 years ago.”
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These reworked classics are now available for purchase in stores and online at Herman Miller, as well as through Herman Miller and MillerKnoll dealers for contract customers.
[via Acquire Mag and Sixtysix Magazine, images via various sources]
