MAJA GANSZYNIEC reintroduces B-621 chair by MARIAN SIGMUND
At Salone del Mobile 2025, Paged Furniture presents Heritage, a new collection that brings a 1950s Polish design back into the contemporary conversation. Under the creative direction of designer Maja Ganszyniec, the project uncovers and reinterprets the nearly forgotten B-621 chair, originally created by modernist designer Marian Sigmund. Sigmund, a key figure in post-war Polish architecture and furniture design, worked with Paged in the late 1950s on a series of bentwood chairs destined for Western Europe and Scandinavia. Though widely distributed abroad, many of his designs faded from public memory in Poland. Now, after six decades, Paged and Ganszyniec have revived one of his most refined forms. ‘Our new product is somewhat like an afterimage—we know the author, but we are working from a ghostly trace,’ says Ganszyniec. ‘This work is truly design archaeology.’
all images courtesy of Paged Furniture
THE GHOST OF A CHAIR BECOMES A NEW ARCHETYPE
The collection includes two pieces: a dining chair and a lounge chair, both marked by the upward-flowing backrest that defined Sigmund’s ergonomic style. Working from archival photos and sparse documentation, Ganszyniec’s team engaged in what she calls ‘design archaeology’—adjusting the dimensions and materials for today’s standards without compromising the soul of the original. Paged engineers and artisans contributed their century-old expertise in bentwood technology, combining traditional steam bending with precision CNC processes. In line with sustainable design goals, the chairs use less foam and are available in unupholstered versions to minimize environmental impact. ‘Today’s society differs from the post-war one—we are taller, broader, and live differently,’ explains Ganszyniec. ‘We’ve changed the proportions accordingly and reduced the environmental footprint by limiting foam and offering an unupholstered base version.’
the project uncovers and reinterprets the nearly forgotten B-621 chair
FROM POLISH FACTORIES TO MILAN’S GLOBAL STAGE
The Heritage 621 debut holds particular historical resonance: Sigmund had previously exhibited at the Triennale di Milano in 1960—and 65 years later, his design returns to the same city. Yet the collection is not intended as a one-off homage. Rather, it marks the beginning of a broader initiative by Paged to revive and reinterpret archival pieces from its design vaults. ‘This is the first step in building a broader series of re-editions drawn from Paged’s archives. Alongside classic Thonets and new designs, we now aim to create a coherent family of vintage revivals,’ Ganszyniec adds. Paged, founded in 1881, is one of Europe’s longest-standing furniture manufacturers. The company continues to operate one of the oldest bentwood factories on the continent and exports to more than 40 countries. With Heritage 621, it affirms a unique proposition: legacy not as nostalgia, but as continuity through craft. ‘Paged isn’t chasing trends. We’re not about fireworks—we’re about calm precision, like a well-tailored suit.’
the chair was originally created by modernist designer Marian Sigmund
Paged and Ganszyniec have revived one of Marian Sigmund’s most refined forms
Paged Furniture collaborates with designer Maja Ganszyniec on Heritage collection
project info:
name: Heritage
original design: Marian Sigmund (c.1958)
creative direction & redesign: Maja Ganszyniec Studio | @studioganszyniec
manufacturer: Paged Furniture | @paged_furniture
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
The post paged furniture resurrects a forgotten polish modernist classic with heritage chair collection appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.