A red Barcelona chair replica changes a room the moment it arrives. Sederica’s replica sets hand-tufted Italian leather in a clear, saturated red on a one-piece stainless steel X-frame polished to a mirror finish, so the colour seems to hover above the floor.
This is the single chair, without the ottoman. It is made for the spot where one strong piece does more than a matching suite: beside a window, opposite a pale sofa, or in a reception area that needs a focal point.
Red leather Barcelona chair: materials and build
The seating faces, meaning the surfaces you sit on and lean against, are Italian leather. The sides and backs of the cushions are faux leather dyed to the same red. Some sellers leave that detail out; we would rather you know, because it is how Barcelona style chairs at this level are usually made, with hide where your body touches and a firmer, colour-stable material where the cushion must hold its square edges.
Each cushion is deep-buttoned by hand into a grid of squares and finished with piped edges. Inside is fire-retardant high-resilience foam. The leather gives a little when you sit down, and the foam springs back when you stand, rather than slowly flattening over the months.
The frame is one piece of polished stainless steel, with no bolted joint where the legs cross. Support straps run beneath the cushions, each double-riveted to the frame, and clear caps on the feet protect your floor.
Barcelona chair red: the 1929 design and where red came in
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the chair with Lilly Reich in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exposition, where Spain’s King Alfonso XIII was expected at the opening. The seat had to feel ceremonial; as Mies later put it, “you just couldn’t use a kitchen chair.” Its crossed legs borrow from the sella curulis, the folding stool of Roman magistrates.
The first chairs had bolted steel frames and ivory pigskin cushions. In 1950 Mies reworked the frame in stainless steel as one continuous piece, the form our replica follows, and cowhide replaced the pigskin. By then he had long since directed the Bauhaus, which he led from 1930.
Colour came later. Red leather versions from the 1970s still turn up at European design dealers, so this is a colour the design has worn for around half a century. Read the full story in our history of the 1929 Barcelona Pavilion or on our Mies van der Rohe designer page.
Bold red leather: why choose this colour
Black and white Barcelona chairs blend into modern rooms. Red is for when you want the chair noticed. It works best with restraint around it: white or pale grey walls, concrete or terrazzo, light oak or walnut floors, and a black or cream sofa nearby.
One red chair can pull a neutral living room together in a way that cushions and throws rarely manage. In a studio, clinic or office reception, it gives visitors something to remember without looking like contract furniture.
Red also pairs well with a second Barcelona chair in a quieter shade. See the other colours in our Barcelona chair range.
Size, weight and what arrives
- Chair: 77 × 78 × 83 cm
- Weight: 19 kg
- Single chair, ottoman sold separately
- No assembly: the cushions clip straight onto the frame
- Ships from our EU warehouse
- 2-year warranty
| Feature | Chair |
|---|---|
| Overall width | 77 cm |
| Overall depth | 78 cm |
| Overall height | 83 cm |
| Net weight | 19 kg |
The seat is low and deep, and the back sits at a fixed angle. This is a chair for sitting upright to read or talk rather than for sinking into; if you want to stretch out, the ottoman changes that.
Caring for your red Barcelona reproduction
Wipe the leather with a soft, slightly damp cloth and treat the Italian leather faces with a pH-neutral conditioner every six months. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, as red dyes react badly to harsh products.
Keep the chair out of strong direct sun, where red fades faster than darker colours. Dry fingerprints and water marks off the frame with a microfibre cloth, and never use abrasive pads on the mirror finish.
Why buy from Sederica
Your chair leaves from our warehouse inside the EU, so there is no customs duty and nothing extra to pay when it arrives. We list what each chair is made of, including the parts that are not leather, because a buyer who knows exactly what they bought is a buyer who keeps it.
Every chair is covered by a written 2-year warranty. If you have a question before ordering, email hello@sederica.com and our team in Europe will reply within 24 to 48 hours.
This is a Barcelona style replica, made independently and inspired by the 1929 design of Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the whole chair covered in real leather?
No. The seating faces, the parts you sit on and lean against, are Italian leather. The cushion sides and backs are faux leather in a matching red, which holds the square shape and stays colour-consistent. From normal viewing distance the two read as one colour. If you are comparing chairs, our guide on how to tell Barcelona chairs apart explains what to check.
Why is this chair so much more affordable than the rights-holder’s version?
The rights-holder’s Barcelona chair typically sells for several thousand euros, and much of that price reflects the brand name and full-hide upholstery on every surface. Our replica follows the same form, with a one-piece polished stainless steel frame, hand-tufted cushions and Italian leather where your body touches. For the difference between the terms, read replica versus reproduction.
Does the chair need assembling?
No. The frame arrives as one piece and the two cushions clip straight onto it, so no tools or fixings are involved. At 19 kg, one adult can carry it into place. Before first use, check that every clip is fully engaged, and look over the straps every few months to make sure the tension stays even.
Will a red leather Barcelona chair fade?
It can if it sits in strong sunlight. Red dyes are more sensitive to UV than black or brown, so a chair near a south-facing window may lighten on the seat and upper back over a few years. Place it out of direct afternoon sun, draw a blind in summer, and condition the leather faces every six months to keep the colour even.
Should I buy the chair on its own or with the ottoman?
Choose the chair alone if you want an upright accent seat for reading, conversation or a reception area. Add the ottoman if this will be your main lounge seat or you want to put your feet up; it also works as a spare perch for guests. The red chair and ottoman set uses exactly the same leather and frame.
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