The Barcelona chair is probably one of the most famous pieces of furniture ever. It has been designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who was born in Germany in 1886.
A fact that is less well known is that van der Rohe was inspired by the so called «sella curulis» that was only to be used by noble and powerful men such as magistrates and other influential authorities in the Roman Empire. Of course they did not use steel and leather but rare wood, ivory decoration and silk or velvet upholstery.
In 1929, at the World Exhibition in Barcelona the modern version of the «sella curulis» was officially presented; hence the name «Barcelona chair». The opening ceremony was held by the Spanish King.
So, one could say that the Barcelona chair is a modern throne, fit for a king (or a queen, of course).
Just for the record: The chair is only one of many masterpieces he created. Van der Rohe was involved in a lot of important projects at the time; for example he designed and furnished the famous Villa Tugendhat. And, he was the director of the famous Bauhaus between 1930 and 1933.
