German SE 119 Chair by Egon Eiermann for Wilde+Spieth, 1950s, Set of 2

A Brief History of Egon Eiermann

Functionalist Egon Eiermann, 1904-1970, was extremely influential in architecture and furniture design in the second half of the 20th century. After graduating from the Technical University of Berlin, Eiermann worked for the Karstadt building department. In 1931 he established an Architecture Bureau with Fritz Jaenecke and by 1951 Eiermann was a co-founder of the German Design Council. His major commissions are glowing examples of the functionalist style and include the textile mill, Blumberg; the West German pavilion at the Brussels World Exhibition; the West German embassy, Washington DC and the church on the site of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin.

Notable designs by Egon Eiermann

In addition to architecture, Eiermann designed the set for many theatre and film productions. His work defined the second modernity movement and continues to define modern German furniture design. Eiermann’s most famous pieces include Table Eiermann 1, the tubular steel chair SE68, the wicker chair E10 (1952), the wood folding chair SE18 and the pew SE121, all of which inspired further works. His designs are still in circulation and some are held in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Eiermann passed away in Baden-Baden in 1970 at 65 years old.

Egon Eiermann at PAMONO

Pamono’s carefully curated selection includes many Egon Eiermann pieces. In keeping with Eiermann’s functionalist ideology these robust pieces are made of practical materials like wood and metal. Each Eiermann piece is hand-picked for our collection. Eiermann’s seating designs are particularly well known and our collection includes many of these, including his SE68 chair. His designs are versatile, recognisable and are a fantastic addition to any space. With our strict quality controls, safe online payment and worldwide shipping PAMONO guarantees customer satisfaction.

Manufacturer Wilde+Spieth was founded in 1831 as an Esslingen, Germany-based carpentry workshop, at first simply named Spieth. The company spent its initial century of activity producing roller shutters, before a 1948 collaboration with the esteemed German postwar architect and industrial designer Egon Eiermann redirected its range toward seating  (and international renown). This fruitful partnership lasted until 1970 and produced over thirty chair designs that combined bentwood with tubular steel.

Standouts from Wilde+Spieth's timelessly modern collection include the three-legged SE 42 Chair (1949); the stackable SE 68 Desk Chair (1951); the E 10 Wicker Chair (1952); the SE 18 Folding Chair (1952), which was honored with a Good Design Award in 1953; the S 319 Folding Table (1952); and the SE 119 Church Chair (1958), which was designed to be used in St. Matthew’s Church in Pforzheim and was also used the same year in the dining room of the German Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Brussels.

Outside of Eiermann, Wilde+Spieth’s midcentury portfolio includes designs from other German modernist architects, most notably Paul Schneider von Esleben (and his ca. 1950s Rattan Chair with solid teak armrests); Herta-Maria Witzemann (and her 1954 Rattan Lounge Chair); and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Bauhaus disciple, Herbert Hirche (and his ca. 1950s wicker Cane Chairs). 

Since Eiermann’s passing in 1970, Wilde+Spieth has chiefly continued producing his most successful chair designs, revered as European modernist classics. In 2013, the company collaborated with contemporary maker Les Couleurs® to reissue Wilde+Spieth’s iconic SE 68 Desk Chair in four colors from the Le Corbusier color range, for which Les Couleurs has exclusive licensing. Orchestral seating, as well as tables , music stands , and accessories  (i.e., instrumental floor pads and shelfs) round out the rest of company’s contemporary oeuvre—designs developed by talents that span from Daniel Libeskind to Thore Garbers and the collective Edelhoff & Nettesheim.