Martin Grierson, for Artflex

MARTIN GRIERSON (United Kingdom, 1932–2023) for Arflex, Milan
Set of six “Oxford” chairs, designed in 1963.
Molded rosewood, original black vinyl upholstery, polished steel legs.
In very good condition, with minimal signs of use.
Measurements: 72 x 58 x 57 cm per chair.

Designed in 1963 for Arflex, the “Oxford” chair dates from the period when Martin Grierson collaborated with the Milanese firm after winning, a few years earlier, an international competition organized by the company itself. The model combines the expressiveness of molded wood with a particularly lightweight steel frame, striking a balance—characteristic of the finest European design of the 1960s—between technical innovation, ergonomics, and material refinement.

The enveloping shell integrates the backrest and armrests through a continuous, sinuous profile, open at the rear to visually lighten the volume. The original black vinyl accentuates this organic design and is a hallmark of the warm surfaces of the rosewood, while the slender polished steel legs lift the seat off the floor and reinforce the sense of lightness. The presence of six examples together, all retaining their original upholstery, is a particularly significant aspect of this lot.

Martin Grierson trained in design and cabinetmaking at the Central School of Arts & Crafts in London—now Central Saint Martins—where he graduated with distinction in 1953. In 1960, he won an international chair design competition organized by Arflex; the resulting design went into production as the “London Chair” and marked the beginning of an independent career in which he also collaborated with firms such as Walter Knoll, Kandya, and Collins & Hayes. He subsequently became a prominent designer and cabinetmaker, taking on commissions for institutions such as the National Gallery and the Tate St. Ives. In 2015, The Furniture Makers’ Company recognized his career with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Arflex, founded in Milan in 1947 by Carlo Barassi, Renato Teani, Pio Reggiani, and Aldo Bai, was one of the leading firms in the postwar renewal of Italian furniture, particularly due to its early experimentation with new materials and construction methods.