Bibendum 100th Anniversary Edition from classicon

Limited edition of the Bibendum to mark its 100th anniversary

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Bibendum armchair, we are presenting a limited special edition of this iconic design. The armchair is one of the most influential works of the modernist era and, more than almost any other piece of furniture, epitomises Eileen Gray’s non-conformist design approach and her unique handling of form, material and space.

Limited to 100 pieces worldwide, this anniversary edition is modelled on a historic original from the 1920s, which was auctioned at Christie’s in 2020 for around 700,000 USD. Upholstered in high-quality nubuck leather in a warm sandy shade and featuring a nickel-plated tubular steel frame, this edition combines historical authenticity with timeless elegance. Each armchair bears Eileen Gray’s engraved signature and a sequential edition number – a mark of its uniqueness and a tribute to one of the most significant pieces of modernist furniture.

Bibendum – an icon turns 100

The Bibendum armchair takes its name directly from the famous Michelin Man – Eileen Gray was not only inspired by its round, friendly shape when designing the piece, but also adopted the name itself. ‘Bibendum’ derives from the Latin toast ‘Nunc est bibendum’ – literally translated as ‘Now let us drink’ – from an ode by the poet Horace. Michelin turned this into its famous advertising slogan, which symbolises how tyres ‘swallow’ obstacles.

And that is precisely the feeling you get when you sit down in the armchair: The soft, padded rings are reminiscent of tyres stacked on top of one another and envelop you like a gentle embrace. This is how Gray draws on the mascot – but in her own, playful way: not just as a figure, but as an experience that you can actually feel.

Eileen Gray herself offered the armchair for sale in her own gallery, Jean Désert, in Paris. In 1929, she also furnished her famous Villa E.1027 with a Bibendum. This extraordinary piece of seating thus became part of her holistic modern lifestyle concept. It was not until the 1970s, shortly before Gray’s death, that the design was rediscovered. In 1973, the designer authorised the London-based firm Aram Designs to mass-produce her furniture – including the Bibendum – for the first time.

The designer – Eileen Gray

Born into an Irish-Scottish aristocratic family, Eileen Gray went to London and Paris to study architecture and design. She first made a name for herself as a leading designer of lacquered walls and decorative panels. Her theories on design and architecture shaped our conception of living spaces: her work is regarded as the epitome of modernism.

Gray’s tubular steel furniture, revolutionary at the time of its creation, is now regarded as a classic.

Authorised by The World Licence Holder Aram Designs Ltd, London