This innovative folding bentwood chair was long thought to have been created by Austrian designer Josef Hoffman, but was recently attributed to Antonio Volpe and Societa Anonima in Udine, the area of Italy most active in the production of bentwood furniture. Its elegant form, in which pure ovals are used to form both the rockers and arms, anticipated abstraction in furniture design.

Egg Chair

Designed by Antonio Volpe (active 1880–1920)

Manufactured by Societa Anonima

Udine, Italy, ca. 1905

Bent beech wood, caning

Museum purchase from the Member's Acquisitions Fund of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, 2007-7-1

photo: Matt Flynn