The tubular steel desk S 285: an important piece of contemporary history

It is as though Marcel Breuer had anticipated today’s home offices and mobile computers: The compact tubular steel desk S 285 that he designed is an elegant companion for modern lifestyle and work. Marcel Breuer’s tubular steel desk S 285 for Thonet is a successful example of the programmatic Bauhaus claim to combine art and technology into a new entity. Breuer was a trained joiner and he combined his knowledge of tubular steel as a material with his experience in interior design. The tabletop and storage elements made of varnished or stained wood harmoniously fit into the tubular steel frame. The supporting frame consists of a curved line, and the wooden elements characterised by clear forms seem to float in it. This piece of furniture with its formally balanced proportions represents an important piece of contemporary history, known as “The New Objectivity”. Thonet produces various versions of this striking model.