Egg Lounge Chair by Peter Ghyczy Senftenberg for Veb Synthesewerk Schwarzheide, 1970

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The so-called Senftenberg Egg, internationally known as the Garden Egg Chair, is one of the most extraordinary pieces of seating … Read more The so-called Senftenberg Egg, internationally known as the Garden Egg Chair, is one of the most extraordinary pieces of seating furniture from the Space Age era and is now a sought-after classic of European plastic design. The chair was designed in 1968 by Peter Ghyczy, initially for the West German company Elastogran. At that time, Ghyczy was experimenting extensively with the then-innovative material polyurethane and, with the Garden Egg, developed one of the earliest chairs to combine seating functionality with a completely enclosed, sculptural form.

This particular example is especially attractive due to the classic combination of a white shell and vibrant red upholstery. The red seat and back cushions still have their original covers, which are in exceptionally good, almost mint condition. The preservation of the original fabric underscores the chair's authentic vintage character.

The white shell is also in very good original condition for its age. Only the lid shows minimal signs of age and use. It is particularly noteworthy that the shell shows no cracks or chips whatsoever – damage that is relatively common in surviving examples of this model due to its age, construction, and material. The folding mechanism also functions perfectly, and the lid closes cleanly, so the chair fully retains its characteristic closed egg shape.

The chair's history is also a remarkable chapter in German-German design history. After only a few prototypes were initially produced in West Germany, the manufacturing technology and design were transferred to VEB Synthesewerk Schwarzheide near Senftenberg in what was then East Germany. There, the Garden Egg Chair went into series production in the early 1970s – and ultimately received its name, still used today, "Senftenberg Egg," due to its place of production.

The futuristic, almost organic form of the white plastic shell is characteristic. When closed, the chair transforms into a compact, almost completely abstract object, reminiscent of a space capsule or an egg. When the upper section is unfolded, it forms the high backrest and reveals the interior with its seat and back cushions. This consistent combination of function and sculptural design makes the chair a particularly striking example of Space Age and Pop design from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The enclosed chair was originally even conceived as weatherproof garden furniture.

Today, the Garden Egg Chair is also part of important design collections, including those of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
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