Marsala lounge chair - Michel Ducaroy - Ligne Roset France

1970s ORIGINAL DARK BROWN LEATHER AND SMOKED PLEXIGLASS

An exceptional matching pair of original 1970s Marsala lounge chairs by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, preserved in beautifully aged dark brown leather with their distinctive smoked plexiglass shells.

Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1971, the Marsala is one of the most distinctive creations from his experimental period at Ligne Roset. Its generous, low-slung seating is held within a dramatic moulded plexiglass shell, creating an almost floating appearance and perfectly capturing the radical new approach to furniture design that emerged in France during the early 1970s.

This pair is particularly attractive in its original dark brown leather. The leather has developed a rich and highly individual patina, with subtle variations from deep chocolate brown to warmer tobacco tones along the areas that have naturally aged through use. Rather than diminishing the chairs, this honest wear gives the leather tremendous depth and character and works beautifully with the warm smoked-brown transparency of the plexiglass.

Both chairs have remained fully original and form a beautifully matching pair. They retain their original leather upholstery, original plexiglass shells, original underside fabric and Roset Made in France labels. The remarkably consistent ageing of both the leather and plexiglass gives the pair a particularly harmonious appearance and makes them increasingly difficult to find in this configuration.

The sculptural shell is an essential part of the original Marsala design. Viewed from the side and rear, the translucent smoked plexiglass becomes almost architectural, while from the front it largely disappears beneath the deeply upholstered seat. This contrast between an innovative rigid shell and soft, generously proportioned leather upholstery is one of the defining characteristics of the original Marsala.

Recently reintroduced by Ligne Roset, the Marsala has once again received attention as an important part of Michel Ducaroy's design legacy. These original 1970s examples retain the distinctive smoked plexiglass construction of the period in which the design was conceived, combined here with beautifully aged original dark brown leather.

The chairs remain in very good original vintage condition. The leather shows a beautiful natural patina with age-related creasing, surface wear and tonal variation, consistent with decades of use and forming an integral part of their authentic appearance. The plexiglass shows normal traces of age and use. Please refer to the detailed photographs for an accurate impression of the condition.

Technical details

• Designer: Michel Ducaroy
• Manufacturer: Ligne Roset, France
• Model: Marsala
• Design year: 1971
• Period: 1970s
• Materials: Original dark brown leather, smoked plexiglass
• Labels: Roset – Made in France
• Condition: Very good original vintage condition with a rich natural patina and age-related wear
• Quantity: Matching pair