Rapid industrialization through the first half of the twentieth century allowed for the widespread use of bent steel. Designers and architects, with a new-found focus on design for schools and the child, were drawn to this material because it could be easily cleaned, providing both a literal sterilization and a visual cleanliness. Below are some of our favorite pieces featuring tubular steel, including kinder MODERN's own Tubax Table and Children's Lounger.
Image from moma.org
Marcel Breuer, Child's Armchair, 1924, tubular steel and canvas
Image from moma.org
Gerrit Rietveld, "Beugel" Child's Chair, 1928, tubular steel and bentwood
Image by Lora Appleton
attr. to Willy Van Der Meeren, Tubax table, 1950's, plywood and metal legs
Image from vs.de
Jean Prouvé, School Bench, 1935, sheet steel, tubular steel, and wood
Image by Lora Appleton
Children's Lounger, 1940, leather and chrome tubular steel