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Eileen Gray’s Bibendum chair, designed in 1926, reaches its 100th anniversary in 2026. Aram, which has produced the chair under licence since 1973, is marking the centenary with a special edition in gold leather textile; the chair’s rounded upholstery and tubular steel frame remain central to its appeal.
Eileen Gray’s Bibendum chair turns 100 in 2026, marking a century since the Irish-born designer created its distinctive combination of rounded, tyre-like upholstered forms and a tubular steel frame. Licensed producer Aram is marking the anniversary with a special edition in gold leather textile, while designers continue to use the chair as both seating and a sculptural feature.
The Bibendum was designed in 1926. Its name and padded, ring-shaped back refer to Bibendum, the Michelin Man mascot. The chair’s soft, generously stuffed upholstery sits above a gleaming metal base, a contrast that distinguishes it from traditional club chairs with wooden legs. Livingetc’s report describes the design as both practical and sculptural.
Aram has made the chair since the 1970s, after securing a licence to produce Gray’s designs in 1973. According to Livingetc, Aram remains the exclusive UK supplier, while ClassiCon holds a sublicence for markets outside the UK. The new anniversary edition, described as using a gold leather textile, adds a contemporary finish to the established design; the report does not provide pricing or availability details.
Gray used the Bibendum in several interiors during the 1920s and 1930s, including fashion entrepreneur Juliette Mathieu-Lévy’s Paris apartment and her own Villa E-1027 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, completed in 1929. A reconstruction of the villa can still be seen at the site, according to the report. The chair’s continued presence in design projects is also reflected in comments from interior designers cited by Livingetc.
Why the Bibendum Still Fits
The centenary offers a moment to assess why a chair designed in the 1920s remains in production and continues to appear in contemporary interiors. Its appeal rests on a clear visual contrast: rounded, inviting upholstery paired with a slender, precise metal frame. That combination makes it usable furniture while giving it a strong presence in a room.
Designers quoted by Livingetc describe the Bibendum as adaptable across different interior styles. Agnes Rudzite said its silhouette can create a focal point without extra decoration, while Iain Watson pointed to the balance between sensuality and modernity. Those are their professional assessments, not a measure of sales or popularity. The report provides no figures for current production, demand or the anniversary edition’s reach.
The chair’s centenary also draws attention to Gray’s wider body of work and the renewed availability of designs that had become scarce. It links an early modernist design to today’s production through licensing, rather than suggesting that the chair has remained continuously available since 1926.
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From Gray’s Studio to Production
Gray’s design career included furniture, interiors and architecture. The Bibendum was among several pieces she developed during the period, alongside works such as the Adjustable Table E1027 and the Lota sofa. In the 1920s she also designed the Villa E-1027, where the chair’s rounded shape stood against the building’s linear architecture.
Early Bibendum chairs were produced in small numbers, in materials including fabric and skai, a vinyl made to resemble leather. Livingetc reports that these early versions are now very scarce. The design faded from view before Zeev Aram recognized its potential and secured the licence in 1973, bringing the chair back into production. The report says Gray’s broader recognition came later in her life and after her death.
The chair takes its name from Michelin’s mascot, first illustrated by cartoonist O’Galop in 1898. The name traces to the Latin phrase “Nunc est bibendum,” which Michelin used as an advertising slogan. Gray’s choice of name and silhouette gave the chair a playful association, while its steel frame and rounded upholstery reflected a more modern approach to furniture.
““I lived with a pair of Bibendum chairs for many years and have always admired their balance of sensuality and modernity.””
— Iain Watson, CEO and founder of David Collins Studio
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Edition Details Still Missing
Livingetc identifies a gold leather textile special edition for 2026 but does not specify its price, production quantity, release date or where it will be sold. The source also does not clarify whether the material is leather or a leather-look textile; it uses the phrase “gold leather textile.” Those details should not be inferred from the anniversary announcement.
The report does not provide sales data or evidence that the chair’s popularity has increased. Descriptions such as “iconic” and “timeless” reflect editorial and designer assessments. The confirmed facts are the design date, the anniversary, the history of licensed production and the reported special edition.
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Watch for Release Information
The next practical details to look for are the special edition’s launch date, price and availability, which were not stated in the source report. Aram’s product announcements and the relevant licensed retailers are the likely places for updates. The anniversary also gives design institutions and publications an occasion to revisit Gray’s work, though the report does not list any planned exhibitions or events.
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Key Questions
Who designed the Bibendum chair?
Eileen Gray, an Irish-born designer, created the chair in 1926. Its rounded upholstery and tubular steel frame give it its recognizable form.
Why is the chair called Bibendum?
The name refers to Bibendum, the Michelin Man. The chair’s padded rings echo the mascot’s rounded shape, according to Livingetc’s report.
What is the 2026 anniversary edition?
Livingetc reports that Aram is marking the centenary with a special edition in gold leather textile. The report does not give a price, release date or production quantity.
Who makes the Bibendum chair today?
Aram has produced the chair under licence since 1973 and remains the exclusive UK supplier, according to Livingetc. ClassiCon holds a sublicence outside the UK.
Source: rss
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