Timeless Design Pieces

Furniture that isn't distinctly of it's time.

What does timeless design actually mean?

Are furniture pieces that don’t show a distinctive time when they are made are considered timeless? I found a few examples to share with you that in my opinion don’t reflect the time they were made.

TIMELESS DESIGN 01:

This is a Chinese handmade chair from the 1800s. Does look familiar to you? Because Hans We

gner designed a chair that went into production in 1950, which is known as the Wishbone Chair. This chair mingles so well in different eras I consider it a timeless design that is enduring. I especially like the coloured versions.

Chinese Handmade Chair from 1800s and the CH24 'wishbone' chair by Hans Wagner

The CH24 wishbone chair transcends the time that it was created.

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TIMELESS DESIGN 02:

The Flag Halyard Chair is one of my all time favorite chairs. It's also designed by Hans Wagner and it is an example of a timeless design because it doesn't look of its time. It was designed in 1949 and that's a really long time ago isn’t it! There was no other furniture at that time that resembled anything like that. And there still isn't.

It is so distinctive that it transcends time.

The Flag Halyard Chair was designed in the 1940s but it still feels fresh today.

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TIMELESS DESIGN 03:

This is an Egyptian offering table made out of alabaster, and it's from 2100 BC. It's seriously, seriously old. It is quite a small table but nevertheless it would fit in perfectly in an interior today. Isn't that wild?

So I think timelessness can also mean that it doesn’t take on the style or the aesthetics of the era. There's something enduring about it and it transcends different eras.

Egyptian Offering Table from 2100BC and a space designed by Leanne Ford.

Agapecasa Eros range comes to mind as being timeless

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TIMELESS DESIGN 04

Something as simple as a French farmhouse dining table is timeless. It's simple, it's robust and they're passed down from generations. They are not trendy, but they never not on trend.

A french farmhouse table is timeless. This space by Pierce and Ward shows off the rustic patina tf the table top.

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TIMELESS DESIGN 05

Any type of Asian or Persian rugs are timeless too. This is a Chinese art deco rug and I love how they used in mid century homes. 

Cadrys have a great range of traditional Persian rugs. I aodre this space belonging to Dakota Johnson by Pierce and Ward.

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TIMELESS DESIGN 06

The simple beauty of the Shaker chais are enduring. They lack ornamentation, which was thought to be boastful and fetishize worldly goods. Instead, Shaker designs such as this one from 1830, display an appreciation of raw materials and fine craftsmanship. One hundred years later, mid century designers also sought to pare back decoration and Gio Ponti designed the 699 Superleggera Chair in 1957.

We tend to think of mid century design as totally new and groundbreaking, yet it goes to show, that trends are cyclical.

A Shaker Chair dating 1830 - 1870 (Brooklyn Museum) and the Superleggera Chair by Gio Ponti 1957.

A dining areas by Charles Zana, photo by Vincent Leroux

Also, this is just my opinion! I think that timelessness i in the eye of the beholder. Tell me what you think.