Launch time：2009-12-19 8:58:43

High quality restaurant chair,dining table

The Ball Chair is one of the most well-known pieces of modern classic furniture. Read on to learn how to find the best ball chair for your budget, as all reproductions are not created equal.



The Ball Chair is an icon of modern classic style. Created by Eero Aarnio in 1966, the ball chair continues to be extremely popular today. If you want to buy a Ball Chair made by the same factory as the original, be prepared to spend $5,000-7000. If this amount is not in your budget, you may want to consider a reproduction of the Ball Chair, which range in price from $600-3000. There’s nothing wrong with buying a reproduction, but there are a few things to look for and questions to ask that will help to ensure you get what you pay for. Reproductions are by no means created equal, so read on to learn how to find the best ball chair for your budget.

Four Things To Look For:

1) The Base
While the base might be the smallest part of the dining chair, it's is very important. The original Ball Chair has a shell that meets the base without any extruding components. This means that the shell should appear to extend directly into the base without anything connecting the two. You should look for the same thing in a reproduction. Not only does this make the Ball Chair more aesthetically pleasing and more accurate, but it has a direct effect on the level of comfort you will experience. An extended base adds to the overall height of the chair, negatively impacting the level of comfort you will experience by making the chair more of a seating chamber and less of a relaxing lounge chair.

2) Price
If you are looking for an original, expect to pay a minimum of $5000. No one is selling an original for less than that price, and if you see something that seems too good to be true, you can be sure it is. There is also a wide price range when it comes to reproductions. While buying the highest priced reproduction doesn’t guarantee you the best product, you should be aware that extremely inexpensive reproductions are often of very poor quality and hardly accurate. Be especially wary of eBay. While it can be a great resource, many sellers claim to sell original Ball Chairs and this is almost never the case. Often the images are not even of the product they actually have, but are taken from the original designer or a website offering a high quality reproduction.

3) American Made
There are dozens of factories all over the world producing ball chairs, many of which can be found in the Far East. Each reproduction that comes from these factories is different than the next. These ball chairs are generally made from cheaper materials, resulting in their inexpensive prices. You’ll find this myriad of inexpensive knock offs on eBay and other auction websites under headings like Great Quality Modern Classics.

If you can buy American made, you are often at an advantage. There is currently one American made version of the Ball Chair available and it comes from Inmod, an online retailer of mid-century modern furniture. This Ball Chair has been Americanized, and actually varies slightly from the original in size, offering 7" inches of additional space for added comfort. This ball chair features a fiberglass shell that is gel coated, rather than painted, allowing for deeper saturation of its color and increased durability. It has also been updated with audio capabilities, enabling you to use the chair as Aarnio intended – as a room within a room, blocking external noise so that you can enjoy your own entertainment. The Inmod Ball Chair can also be customized by choosing from a variety of interior fabrics and external colors.

4) Accuracy to original
If you are spending money on a reproduction, you’ll want to look for one that is accurate to the original. In the case of the ball chair, this includes its shape, materials, and size. The shape of the Ball Chair’s shell should be more than half a sphere. Chairs that are a half sphere or less will lack the lounge-like seating area the chair is intended to have, and will have a less comfortable seating angle. The angle of the sphere is also important. The more pitched back the seat is the more comfortable and accurate it will be. The more upright the chair is, the less accurate and less of a lounge chair it will be. The sphere and base should be made of fiberglass, as was the original, which is far more durable and attractive than the molded plastic that is sometimes used in reproductions. Size is also a factor, and you may want to take a look at the dimensions of the original ball chair to gauge whether you want to look for an exact match in size or one that will better suit your needs.

Three Things To Ask:

1) What kind of warranty does it come with?
This is something you should ask before making any significant purchase. Be sure to find out not only how long the warranty is, but also what is covered. Be wary of any company that does not offer a warranty of any kind. If they aren’t confident in their product, why should you be?

2) What is the shell made out of?
The original ball chair is made out of fiberglass for several reasons. Many reproductions available today are made out of molded plastic instead of fiberglass. This not only affects the look and accuracy of the chair, but also its durability. Fiberglass is far more durable than molded plastic, and plays a significant role in its look as well. If a company claims its Ball Chair is made out of fiberglass, it is still a good idea to ask for further information. Like most materials, fiberglass varies in quality. Quality fiberglass should have a smooth surface, while low quality will appear to have a surface more like molded clay. Always ask for pictures!

3) Can you send me additional photography?
When making any major purchase, it is important to make sure you are getting what you pay for. There are so many modern classic reproductions on the market, and while some are quite good, others are the exact opposite. Always contact the seller to be sure that the images you see are of the exact product you will be receiving, as often this is not the case. Ask for additional images, especially high resolution images. Any company with a respectable product and who values your business will do whatever they can to get these too you. Also be sure to ask about all return policies, and what happens if what you get is not what is pictured.

High quality restaurant chair,dining table

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