MK&G Hamburg Exhibition Explores Two Centuries of Children's Chair Design

The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (MK&G) in Hamburg will present 'Mini Furniture: Chairs for Children' from 14 June to 1 November 2026. Curated by Simon Klingler, the exhibition examines 130 child-centric chair designs spanning two centuries with a European focus. It is organized into four chapters: 'Variety', 'Form: From High to Low', 'Function', and 'Colour'. Highlights include a miniature version of Marcel Breuer's B34 cantilevered armchair (1929), Philippe Starck's Lou Lou Ghost (2008), the Tripp Trapp chair by Peter Opsvik for Stokke (1972), and the Eames Elephant (1945) by Charles and Ray Eames. The show argues that children's chairs are a distinct field of experimentation, not merely scaled-down adult furniture. Klingler noted that modular and adaptable concepts have existed for over a century, with early designers creating adjustable high chairs. The exhibition also features works by Erich Dieckmann, Luigi Colani, Hans Brockhage, and others.