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1990s Vintage Kartell “FPE” Chair by Ron Arad — Fantastic Plastic Elastic — Mid-
$500
£377.73
€433.18
CA$697.65
A$759.26
CHF 402.48
MX$9,134.51
NOK 5,104.79
SEK 4,670.53
DKK 3,236.15
About the Item
Designer: Ron Arad
Model: FPE (Fantastic, Plastic, Elastic)
Manufacturer: Kartell, Milan, Italy
Era: Late 1990s / Early 2000s (original production run 1999–mid 2000s) 
The FPE chair is one of Ron Arad’s most iconic plastic-and-metal designs. It uses an ingenious method: a single sheet of injection-molded polypropylene is slid flat into double-barrelled aluminum extrusions, then bent into shape under pressure — creating a light, flexible but structurally sound chair without screws, glue, or welding. 
This combination of industrial engineering + sculptural form + stackable practicality helped make the FPE a landmark of late-20th-century design. It’s part of major museum collections worldwide (including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York). 
• Original vintage Kartell production (not reproduction)
• Polypropylene seat/back + extruded aluminum frame
• Signature flexible-seat technology — seat/back remain slightly flexible until someone sits, then lock rigid under weight. 
• Lightweight
stackable (up to 6–8 chairs) — ideal for small spaces or flexible interiors. 
• Great for lovers of postmodern / space-age / contemporary design; fits gallery-style interiors, modern apartments, creative studios.
Dimensions (approx / official): 31¼″ H × 17″ W × 22″ D (79.4 × 43.2 × 55.9 cm) 
Materials: Injection-molded polypropylene (seat), Extruded aluminum (frame) 
Condition
Authenticity Notes
• Good vintage condition — seat/back show light wear typical of age/use (please refer to photos).
• Underside of seat shows original manufacturing stamp: “Kartell — FPE Chair by Ron Arad made in Italy” and (in some cases) production year (e.g. “’99”). These marks help confirm authenticity. 
• Chair remains structurally sound — seat flexes as originally intended, frame intact.
Shipping / Pickup
Local pickup available (San Gabriel, CA). Can also arrange white-glove delivery or shipping — contact me for a quote and provide zip code at a minumum.
This chair works beautifully as:
• A statement accent seat in a minimal or contemporary living room / studio
• A functional design-icon seat for collectors or fans of late-20th-century furniture
• A conversation piece / photo-shoot prop / gallery-worthy furniture item
- Creator:Ron Arad (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 17 in (43.18 cm)Depth: 31 in (78.74 cm)
- Style:Post-Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Plastic,Molded
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1990-1999
- Date of Manufacture:1997
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:San Gabriel, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU9205247881712
Ron Arad
Ron Arad was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1951 and studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Art (1971–73) and the Architectural Association in London (1974–79). In 1989, he and Caroline Thorman founded Ron Arad Associates. Arad has exhibited at many major museums and galleries throughout the world and his work is considered definitive within public collections of contemporary design, including those at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y; Victoria Albert Museum, London and the Vitra Design Museum, among many others.
About the Seller
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Established in 2023
1stDibs seller since 2023
25 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: San Gabriel, CA
- Return Policy
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