Review and Comparison Guide: Modern Classic's Petite and Grande Chairs
Inspired by: le Corbusier LC2 and LC3 Lounge Chairs
LC2 Petite
Club Chair
| LC2 Petite Club Chair | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2001 |
| Base Price | $ 1,580 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 31w x 28.5d x 27h |
| Seat Height: | 18 inches |
| Weight: | 51 pounds |
LC3 Grande
Lounge Chair
| LC3 Grande Lounge Chair | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2021 |
| Base Price | $ 1,510 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 39w x 28.5d x 27h |
| Seat Height: | 17.5 inches |
| Weight: | 61 pounds |
LC3 Grande Feather Relaxed
Lounge Chair
| LC3 Feather-Relaxed Lounge Chair | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2061 |
| Base Price | $ 1,660 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 39w x 28.5d x 27h |
| Seat Height: | 17.5 inches |
| Weight: | 64 pounds |
We wrote this review and comparison guide to help you figure out who makes the best LC2 and LC3 chair replicas. We have only highlighted 4 sellers of these iconic chairs, the primary contenders if you will, and while it seem slightly bias toward our versions, the points are valid and we hope support the notion that our versions of these chairs are the best value proposition on the market.
Summary: Modern Classics vs. Others
| Feature | Modern Classics | Design Within Reach | Bauhaus 2 Your House | Low-Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC2 Cube Chair | $ 1,580 | $ 5,055 | $ 1,487 | $ 440 |
| LC3 Lounge Chair | $ 1,510 | $ 5,320 | $ 1,761 | $ n/a |
| LC3-Relaxed Lounge Chair | $ 1,660 | $ 5,870 | $ n/a | $ n/a |
| Overall Dimensions | ||||
| Chair Frame | ||||
| Chair Cushions | ||||
| Upholstery Materials | ||||
| Custom Options |
Detailed Comparison: Modern Classics vs. Others
FEATURE OVERVIEW
Modern Classics
Our Corbusier LC2 and LC3 style lounge chairs are offered in top grain Italian leather, our frame is #304 Stainless Steel, polished to a mirror-like finish. For an extra charge, we offer powdercoating the frame in 8 standard colors. You may also provide your own upholstery materials for your specific project.
Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach (DWR) sells the original replica of these chairs as made by Cassina in Italy (a.ka., the "Signature" or "Cassina" model.) Cassina's LC2 and LC3 style lounge chairs are offered in top grain Italian leather in 6 colors, a chrome-plated steel frame, some alternate metal frame finishes and some fabrics. Each piece has an signature plaque of le Corbusier, which is their trademark. DWR prices do not include sales taxes with be added, since DWR has a store in virtually every state.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
Bauhaus 2 Your House ("B2H") only offers the Dacron wrapped LC2 and LC3 style lounge chairs are offered in one color of leather, black,. Their chairs use a chrome-plated steel frame. Prices includes FNo Sales Taxes except for residents of California.
Low-Market Chairs
LC2 and LC3 style chairs can be found all over the Internet, and are notably becuase their prices are well below $600. The low market chairs are offered in one or two colors: black and white, and are known for using extremely hard/dense foam, non-Italian leather and having incorrect dimensions.
CHAIR DIMENSIONS
Modern Classics
Our chair dimensions are modeled from original 1929 engineering drawings, and are the closest to the designer's original intent of the model. In addition, on our two Grande Lounge Chair models (MC-2021 and MC-2061), we have increased the leg lengths by appoximately 2 inches to provide a higher seat height than the original. This is better for accessibility and comfort, plue it means the arm heights of the LC3 model are the same as the LC2 model. So they look well paired together.
Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach sells the Cassina Brand of the le Corbusier chairs. Cassina decided in the 1960's what the dimensions would be and these are the closest to the designer's original intent of the models on the market, which means the LC3 model sits practically on the floor and the arm heights are lower than the arm height of the LC2 model. So they don't look well paired together.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
The seat height on LC3 chairs that B2H sells, while considered correct for this model, at 14.5 inches, is still very low for USA standard. These are a close to the designer's original intent of the model.
Low-Market Chairs
Their chair frame dimensions seem slightly smaller in overall size than our version and the curve on the back legs is not correct. Not to specifications.
CHAIR FRAME
Modern Classics
Our Frames are hand formed using No. 304 grade stainless steel tubing hand-polished to a mirror-like finish. By using higher grade #304 stainless steel we achieve a more natural appearance metal feature than plated chrome as well as a more environmentally safe steel compared to "plated chrome". Stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use. Besides the hand-polished look, we can make our frame with a standard selection of 8 powdercoated finishes, or offer custom colors based on customer's request. One thing that distinquishes our frames are the way we make the frame corners. The Signature Model present rounded corners made of bent tubing. We construct our corners by cutting and welding the corners in more of a 90 degree angle, and then welding and polishing smooth.4
Design Within Reach
The Cassina frames are hand formed of mild steel tubing then chrome plated or painted. Chrome plating is not known for it's environmental freindliness or safety. Chrome plating can be chipped and scratched whereas stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use. There are options besides the polished chrome look, presently in 5 color choices, however, no custom color choices are available (like with the Modern Classics Brand). The Cassina Model present rounded corners are made of bent tubing. We construct our corners by cutting and welding the corners in more of a 90 degree angle, and then welding and polishing smooth. In addition, each DWR chair has an signature plaque of le Corbusier, which is their trademark.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
The frame on the models that B2H sells are hand formed of mild steel tubing then chrome-plated. Chrome plating is not known for it's environmental freindliness or safety. Chrome plating can be chipped and scratched whereas stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use. There are no options besides the polished chrome look, i.e., no powdercoating. Also, the seat height on LC3 chairs that B2H sells, while considered correct for this model, at 14.5 inches, is still very low for USA standard.
Low-Market Chairs
Their chair frame is lower grade stainless steel, machined-polished and has a dull, milky finish. Does not look like chrome or very good stainless steel. Some models use hollow tubing, not solid bar. There are no options besides the polished chrome look, i.e., no powdercoating.
CHAIR CUSHION
Modern Classics
Our cushions are upholstered with leather and depending on the chair model, has piping and seams in all the right places. Our cushions have leather on top, back and sides, with a small area under the seat cushion that are made of nylon, for breathability. We use luxury grade HR (High Resilient) Multi-Density Foam in our cushion construction giving our customers a very comfortable sitting experience - as comfortable as the original. This foam is an environmentally and people safe material produced by a major world-recognized foam manufacturer. Our foam is rated by independent certified testing laboratories and tested for commercial safety grade fire and smoke standards for Europe and USA. Additionally, the foam is wrapped with Dacron polyester fiberfill for additional softness. On the Petite version, we also add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra and seat comfort.
Design Within Reach
The Cassina cushions are upholstered with leather and depending on the chair, has piping and seams in all the right places. Their cushions have leather on top, back and sides, with a small area under the seat cushion that are made of nylon, for breathability. Cassina uses High Resilient Multi-Density Foam in their cushion construction. On the LC2 version, Cassina does not add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand. Their all feather version is interesting, in that it doesn't retain it's shape at all. For our feathered relax version, we use a foam core wrapped in feathers as a way to retain some rigidity in the cushions, while still being soft.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
B2H cushions are upholstered with leather but on the LC3 version, the piping on the seat cushion doesn't match the Cassina Brand. B2H's model might use High Resilient Multi-Density Foam in their cushion construction, since the chairs are imported from Italy. And they might wrap their foam with Dacron polyester fiberfill. On the LC2 version, B2H does not add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand.
Low-Market Chairs
Cushions on chairs in the low end of the market are substandard, for example, sometimes leather is not used on all exposed surfaces, there are leather seams in the middle of back cushions. The foam density on the chairs found at the low end of the market are hard as a concrete park bench. On the LC2 version, you won't find a layer of feathers on the top of the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand.
UPHOLSTERY MATERIALS
Modern Classics
We offer 20 imported Italian leather colors as standard, with the option of providing your own leather or selecting from our wide range of color and texture selection of stock European leather colors for a minor surcharge. We also offer our exclusive Boucle Fabric in 20 colors for our chairs, please contact us for more details.
Design Within Reach
DWR and Cassina only offers 6 Italian leather colors as standard.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
B2H offers many fabric and leather choices for pre-order, with black being the only stock color.
Low-Market Chairs
These models are typically offered in only 1 or 2 leather colors: black and white. Upholstery might be leather, bonded leather, or vinyl; in any case, not quality A level Italian or USA leather.
CUSTOM OPTIONS
Modern Classics
We offer the extreme flexibility on this model for customizing, with modest up-charges. First, there is the upholstery material. You can provide your own fabric or leather. You can ask us to check with our leather supplier for a specific leather color. We can powder coat the frame using one of our standard colors, or your own selection.
Design Within Reach
DWR and Cassina offer limited flexibility on this model for customizing, for some extreme upcharges. There is no other frame choice than polished chrome or the few other standard frame colors.
Bauhaus 2 Your House
B2H offers no customizing options.
Low-Market Chairs
These models offer no customizing options.
Product Description
One of the most influential of 20th century architects, Chareli-Edouard Jeanneret, who chose to be know as "Le Corbusier", was also responsible for some of the Modern Movements best-known furniture. In collaboration with designer Charlotte Perriand and his architect cousin Pierre Jeanneret, he helped create machine age classics such as the LC2 Club Chair, the LC3 "grand confort" armchair, the Basculant Sling chair and the chaise lounge chair. Free from any form of decoration, these tubular steel designs embody relaxed and timeless elegance.
We make our own versions of the Le Corbusier style Lounge Chairs. These are made at own factory, and you will not find a finer version of this seating collection anywhere else. We use high gauge tubular stainless steel on each frame. The frame is polished to a mirror-like finish with mitered frame corners ground to a soft radius. The feet have adjustable height glides. The webbing is 2" polyester woven elastic with hooks to hold it the frames. Besides the polished frame, we also offer 6 colors of metallic powder coated finishes, or choose your own!
We use top-grain, aniline-dyed leather on all visible cushion surfaces. Inside each cushion is high density, HR (High Resilient), Multi-Density polyurethane foam surrounded by Dacron batting. On the LC2 seat cushion, there is a layer of goose down/feathers on the seat top. On the LC3, the seat cushion has an extra layer of Dacron fiberfill. The LC3-relaxed uses both foam and goose down/feathers on the side and seat cushions for the most comfortable of the Cassina style chair.
LEATHER CHOICES
Modern Classics Furniture offers two levels of Top-Grain Italian Leathers. Each of the these groupings feature:
- Top-grain Italian leather from Grade A hides
- Semi aniline-dyed (standard) and 100% aniline-dyed (premium)
- Made in Italy and imported to our factory
- Have a UV and Moisture Guard built into the dye
- Are not split hides or bonded leather
We are happy to mail you a physical piece of leather so you can hold it in your hands.
Below are the leather colors we offer for our le Corbusier Style Chairs. Our Standard Leathers (denoted with the prefix L1) are top-grain, aniline-dyed, and then color corrected with a slight embossing to create a more uniform grain pattern. Our Premium leathers (denoted with the prefix L2) are also top-grain, aniline-dyed but have a soft feel to them and much of the hides natural grain patterns are retained. All our leathers are considered equally durable and are ideal for home or commercial use. To read more about leather, read our A Guide to Understanding Upholstery Leather: A Primer.
Click on any of these images for an enlarged view.
Standard Leathers (Top Grain - Textured)
Other Metal Frame Color Choices
Besides the standard #304 Polished Stainless Steel frames shown above, we do our own in-house powder coating over the stainless steel frame. We offer 8 standard colors and there is a $100 extra charge for the custom leg finishing.
Click on any of these swatches to see an enlarged view.
VIEW OUR OTHER PRODUCTS INSPIRED BY THIS DESIGNER
About Modern Classics Furniture
Here at Modern Classics Furniture, we focus tightly on manufacturing and selling furniture in the niche market known as Iconic Modern Classics Furniture. Here's why we are your top choice for Modern Classic Furniture:
- We make and sell only our own products -- we do not sell other manufacturer's product, nor will you find our products elsewhere on the Internet.
- We offer a 3 year warranty
- We only make quality furniture using the best materials
- We offer wholesale and design trade prices - let us be your #1 source - sign up today!
Corporate Headquarters and Factory Showroom
3999 Hammer Drive
Bellingham, WA 98226
Curt Roth, President
360-733-6400
curt@modernclassics.com
While we have three showroom locations, the best place to call and get answers is at our company headquarters in Bellingham Washington. Call or Email, you will most likely reach Curt Roth, company president and chief answerman. Or you can use this contact us form, we will receive a text message.