An icon turns 100 Years
the story behind the Bibendum Armchair
The Bibendum Armchair takes its name directly from the famous Michelin Man. Eileen Gray was inspired not only by his rounded, friendly silhouette, but also adopted the name itself. “Bibendum” originates from the Latin phrase Nunc est bibendum – literally, “Now is the time to drink” – taken from an ode by the poet Horace. Michelin later transformed this expression into its well-known advertising slogan, symbolising the way tyres “swallow up” obstacles on the road.
That same sensation is felt when sitting in the armchair: the soft, upholstered rings recall a stack of tyres and envelop the body like a gentle embrace. In this way, Gray translates the mascot into her own playful language – not as a figurative reference alone, but as a physical experience that can truly be felt.
History and rediscovery
Eileen Gray herself offered the armchair for sale in her own gallery, Jean Désert, in Paris. In 1929, she also furnished her celebrated Villa E.1027 with a Bibendum Armchair, integrating the piece into her holistic vision of modern living. The chair thus became an expression of her broader approach to design and architecture. It was not until the 1970s, shortly before Gray’s death, that the design was rediscovered. In 1973, she authorised the London-based company Aram Designs to produce her furniture – including the Bibendum Armchair – in series for the first time.
Limited edition Bibendum for the 100th anniversary
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Bibendum Armchair, we are presenting a limited anniversary edition of this iconic design. The armchair is regarded as one of the most influential works of Modernism and stands like few other pieces for Eileen Gray’s nonconformist approach to design and her distinctive handling of form, material and space.
Limited to 100 pieces worldwide, the anniversary edition is based on a historic original from the 1920s, which was auctioned by Christie’s in 2020 for around USD 700,000. Upholstered in fine nubuck leather in the warm shade of sand and paired with a nickel-plated tubular steel frame, the edition unites historical authenticity with timeless elegance. Each armchair bears Eileen Gray’s engraved signature together with a consecutive edition number – a mark of its individuality and a tribute to one of the most significant pieces of modern design.
Art, architecture and design: the multifaceted work of Eileen Gray
With her design and architectural theories, Eileen Gray (1878-1976) has shaped our idea of interior design; her work is considered the epitome of modernism. Gray's tubular steel furniture, revolutionary at the time of its creation, is now considered a classic. Her Adjustable Table E1027 is one of the best-known and most copied designs in the world and one of the bestsellers in the ClassiCon collection. As early as 1978, the Museum of Modern Art in New York included it in its permanent collection. Numerous other pieces of furniture – chairs and armchairs, daybeds, rugs and lamps – by Eileen Gray can also be found in the portfolio of ClassiCon.
