Feature, Guest Blog: 02 Nov 2014

When furniture takes the starring role: The Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio

First introduced to the masses in 1963, the Ball Chair designed by Eero Aarnio, was a firm favourite with everyone who was anyone during this time. With its quirky, fun and futuristic design and poptastic colours, The Ball Chair was sure to be a big hit with movie makers worldwide.

Aarnio’s plan was to create “a room within a room” when he set about its design and its striking globe-like appearance was enough to make it one of the coolest pieces of furniture around.

To date, the chair has appeared in Dazed and Confused (1993), The Prisoner TV series (1967-1968), Tommy (1975), and Mars Attacks! (1996).

ball-chair-eero-aarino-film-and-furniture

dazed-and-confused-ball-chair-film-and-furniture — The Ball Chair by Eero Aarino in Dazed and Confused

The chair is one of the most well known classics of Finnish design and Aarnio’s international breakthrough. The round shell is simple yet ingenious and can be found in the collections of design museums around the world as well as in several movies and music videos.

The currently produced Ball chair from Eero Aarnio Originals has a white fibreglass shell with an aluminium foot, polyurethane foam cushions, and is upholstered with Kvadrat Tonus 4 or Kvadrat Hallingdal 65 fabric in a range of colourways.

ball-chair-eero-aarino-the-prisoner — The ball chair in the 1960s TV series The Prisoner

The ball chair in the 1960s TV series The Prisoner

Ann Margret in a Ball Chair in Tommy (1975)

Ball chairs with dotty fabric in Mars Attacks!

Whats the low down and where can I get one?

Firstly BEWARE! There are many rips offs out there. New officially licensed versions are available from our Film and Furniture interior design service where we can negotiate trade discounts on your behalf. Please email us at [email protected] for details

Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio Originals (new)
As seen in:
Designer: Eero Aarnio

Eero Aarnio Originals

New, officially licensed. The Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio designed in 1963 is one of the most well known classics of design and can be spotted in movies and music videos including Dazed and Confused (1993), The Prisoner TV series (1967-1968), Tommy (1975), and Mars Attacks! (1996).

Approx £5,486.00 / $7186

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If you want a vintage original try Etsy and Chairish.

Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio (vintage)
As seen in:
Designer: Eero Aarnio

This vintage original Ball Chair, designed by Eero Aarnio for Asko features red fabric upholstery and was produced in the 1960s in Denmark. This space age design classic has appeared in Dazed and Confused (1993), The Prisoner TV series (1967-1968), Tommy (1975), and Mars Attacks! (1996).

Approx £600.00 / $786

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Ball chair by Eero Aarnio miniature
As seen in:
Designer: Eero Aarnio

Vitra

This desktop sized version of Eero Aarnio’s 1965 Ball Chair is part of a miniature collection of the most important classics of modern furniture history.

Approx £240.00 / $314

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