What is the history of the cantilever chair?

The history of the cantilever chair dates back to 1926. It was then that Mart Stam created a sketch of a new idea for a chair on the back of a dinner napkin at a cocktail party. His drawing inspired Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to create his own version of the chair. This led to a legal battle between the two. Other designers, such as Marcel Breuer, began experimenting with the cantilever design, and today, many manufacturers continue to employ the cantilever design in their pieces. Explore a large collection of cantilever chairs on 1stDibs.