It may not be the Iron Throne, but it’s definitely more comfortable!
In an intimate gathering last May 9, Focus Global Inc. hosted an exclusive luncheon at the B&B Italia showroom in BGC in celebration of Mother’s Day and the 50th Anniversary of the iconic B&B Italia “Up” Armchair. This is more famed as the “Mama Chair” by virtue of its distinct interpretation of the female form.
With its “big bosom and large behind,” the iconic armchair designed by Gaetano Pesce, officially named Serie Up 2000, was nicknamed “Mama” by virtue of its morphological design.
Released in 1969, during the tumult of feminist movement in Italy, Up was Gaetano Pesce’s first design statement over the global plight of women. “It’s political architecture,” he explains. "At that time, I was telling a personal story about my concept of women: I believe that women have always been unwilling prisoners of themselves. This is why I decided to give this armchair the shape of a woman with a ball and chain... Women suffer because of the prejudice of men. The chair was supposed to talk about this problem.”
The Up Armchair has made its way to the homes of notable artists like Salvador Dalí. It also had cameos on the big screen in movies like James Bond: Diamonds are Forever; as well as permanent design collections of the Triennale in Milan and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
