A rare and museum-quality set of 6 Brno flat bar chairs designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (German-American, 1886–1969), manufactured by Treitel-Gratz Co., New York — the elite American metal fabrication shop whose Brno production predated Knoll's, and whose chairs are among the most historically significant American-made examples of this iconic Bauhaus design.
The Brno Chair (Model MR50) was designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929–1930 for the Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic — one of the masterpieces of 20th-century architecture. The chair's radical cantilever construction, single-piece bent flat steel bar frame, and supremely refined proportions make it one of the defining objects of Modernism. It remains in production today by Knoll, but vintage examples — particularly those by the original American fabricators — are highly sought by collectors, architects, and institutions worldwide.
Treitel-Gratz was the finest metal fabrication workshop in New York, serving clients including Raymond Loewy, Donald Deskey, Isamu Noguchi, and Mies van der Rohe himself. The company fabricated Brno chairs for landmark interiors including the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City (1959), the most celebrated Mies-designed interior in America. Treitel-Gratz production chairs are considered more historically significant than later Knoll editions by serious collectors and design historians.
This set of 6 features polished stainless steel flat bar frames in excellent structural condition. Upholstery needs cleaning — frames are pristine. A set of 6 represents a genuinely rare and complete dining or conference room offering.
Details
Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (German-American, 1886–1969)
Manufacturer: Treitel-Gratz Co., New York
Model: Brno Flat Bar Chair (MR50)
Quantity: Set of 6
Frame: Polished stainless steel flat bar, cantilevered
