They really are all over the place, aren't they?

I have the Maurice Chair from Chiasso. It's Barcelona-esque, but a little curvier. I like it a lot so far.
http://www.chiasso.com/store/Item.aspx?DepartmentId=38&ItemId=50607

My friend bought his Barcelona knock-off from Domicile in Chicago. I haven't heard any complaints from him. He bought it at the Progressive Sale, so I think he got a great deal.

We got one for one of our friends as a gift. They are very happy with it and it looks and feels great whenever I go around to their place. It's around $1,000. Inmod was recommended by someone else on AT as being a place to get good quality knock-offs.

http://www.inmod.com/mi.html

If you search in AT NY you should find a discussion about barcelona chair knock-offs, and why the original is so expensive (apparently something to do with the welding, and the fact that the original actually sews individual squares of leather together. Leather quality, etc).

I LUV the Barcelona Chair, and hope to have a pair in red leather, with ottomans some day. That said, I would be concerned about the lower end knock-offs. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, a poorly executed knock-off will always look like a poorly executed knock-off.

Myself, I am going to wait until I can afford the $1899.00 one from European Furniture Warehouse. They have a really good version, and it is well made. But at $1899.00 each, it will be a few years before I can justify the slurge.

BTW, One of the reasons that the original is so expensive, is that the "X" frame is cast as a single piece in steel, whereas the knock-offs are welded pieces, and the finish work (or lack thereoff) often shows. The leather used on the higher priced versions us usually of a much nicer grade as well.

I bought the special order white from EBPeters among a bunch of other knock offs and I haven't had a problem with it. The only issue I had was with a sectional sofa I ordered where the back is very week. If I sit on it, the entire back bends backwards. Overall though I had a great experience with EBPeters and I think the sectional is just a bad design. Haven't had the chance to call them about it, but their customer service seems to be pretty good from prior inquiries.

Weak not week.

I think the knock-offs at whiteonwhite.com are a pretty good bang for the buck and they used to have the barcelona chair for $600. I'm not sure if they still have them.

Overstock.com sells them for $379, ottoman for $199. Depending on the day they have red, black, and creme. Shipping is 3 bucks.

Another contribution to the cost of the real chairs: apparently a 'real' Barcelona chair is in stainless steel, whereas the knockoffs are in chromed steel.

urban outfitters sold a barcelona knock off for a while, I'm not sure if they're currnently selling it or not

http://www.classicandmodern.com/seating.html

Re: stainless steel vs chromed steel:

Does anyone know what "inox steel" is?
Is it stainless or chromed?
Can chromed also be stainless?

i'm more curious about the lamp in the picture... knock off of the arco lamp? I do like this odd rectangle shape-- anyone know where that's from?

i wholeheartedly recommend white on white!

i've been in one of their manhattan shops several times to browse without even realizing their stuff was knockoffs -- i figured the lower pricetags were because the stuff was used, as the Essex St. shop has a very vintage vibe and is located near other similar used furniture stores which specialize in midcentury and 'design icon' style pieces.

i was ogling the Barcelona chaise last time i was in there and honestly couldn't tell the difference between theirs and the real thing (to the extent that i was shocked by their $2500 pricetag).

The real thing vs. the other thing.

The Knoll folks with real, licensed product take some steps you notice if you slow down. For example, they use a whole hide for the tufted upholstery vs. stitched-together leather.

That said, even Knoll doesn't make the product as well as they used to because of competition / confusion products. For example, I think the originals were all stainless steel. A chromed version (less expensive to tool and manufacture) wasn't offered.

Now that I look at 'em...they look more like Poul Kjærholm:
http://www.architonic.com/4101130

I would say the best knockoff of a Barcelona chair is the one we carry at the store I work for...(not because I work there!) but it is the best for your money. You have a choice of black, cognac or white! at Domicile Furniture.

inox is french for stainless steel.

the barcelona knockoffs are also available in canada at boulevard interiors (at Queen & bathurst in Toronto).

That's interesting about Knoll, Scott. I have to say, I was at a party where the host had licensed Barcelonas. I really think you could put them side by side with the one my friend got from Domicile and be hard-pressed to see the difference in anything but the frame, and even then it's not too noticeable.

I think the most important thing about buying a repro is to embrace the knock-off-ness. My friend always invites people to sit on his Barce-clone-a.

I have a real Barcelona chair in red, and it's pretty, but not the most comfortable lounge chair ever. It's got lots of sharp edges and sharp points, too -- not a child-friendly piece of furniture. The Eames lounge chair is friendlier and more comfortable, though not available in red. My next lounge chair is going to be a smoother, friendlier object (though this may take a little time; the Barcelona chair doesn't seem to age at all).

I have a store in Nyc and I buy from several vendors the best Barcelona chairs other than knoll are distributed by Alphaville
they wholesale to the stores for 450.00 and we try to sell them for around 850 to 1000 depending what the market will bear , they are made of the best stainless steel and the best leather . the other good company is fancy furniture , they are just like the Alphaville they all take several months to ship cause they have to have them made up in large containers coming from China. so they can get cheap shipping and we can pass cheap shipping to you the customer. I have carried from other companies but they are crap . 95 percent of these chairs come from China and there is not one thing the matter with them !!! do not be a snob and think just cause they come from knoll or Italy they are the best to be honest with you there really no such thing as a knock off They are a barcelona chair designed by mies . . Jason

White on White is the worst any thing from them is cheap and It will fall apart before it gets to your Apt . Don't waste your time buying a Barcelona chair from them or a tulip table or a Eames bucket chair. my girl
friend and i have bought all three and all three have either broke been replaced by them or just trashed cause we sere pissed at them. I think they bring that crap in from third world countries . DWR is very expensive but they sell the real deal and so does Vitra . Moderica has great bucket chairs with there names on the bottom and you can find great Barcelona chairs on line from stores that sell Alphaville (they made a change in the feet of the new Barcelona chairs in Feb. ththey won't scuff the wood floors in your Apt. K

We had the knoll Barcelonas at our law office and we had at least 10 that had been around since the 70's in black. We changed them out 3 months ago with Alphaville cause the knolls were getting a little old looking .. at the partners meeting we agreed to sell the knolls for 100 each We all jumped on them and they were gone in 5 minutes (yes i know that was a good deal but after depreciation in the 80's that was a o.k. surplus price)
We replaced them with white and red barcelona chairs and they were Alphaville and to be honest with you no body could tell the difference or any one cared I do know we paid 800 each and every one loves them and they look great in our office on 3rd Ave.

Does anyone have an original Barcelona to measure? I have seen knock-offs that have 3cm wide legs and ones with 4cm wide legs. I was wondering which is more original.

how thick in inches are the knoll reproductions? alphaville are 4". It looks to me like alphaville's new improved barcelona chair is the best out there, but the original barcelona chairs' cushions were only 2 1/2" thick.

I got Alphaville Barcelona chair from IQmatics (www.iqmatics.com). Very happy with it. It was delivered directly to my place.

he original was a 1 piece stainless steel frame with welded joint. Also, the cushions were individually cut and sewn squares. NOT one piece hides tufted. If you are in Chicago you can come see out version at European Furniture Warehouse (2145 W. Grand Ave in Chicago). We sell our version for $1999 which is virtually the same as the chromed Knoll / DWR version that sells for $3800. The only difference...no stamp. What is the difference between our chromed version and the original Knoll version (sell at DWR for around $5800)? (1) Mechanical joint hidden under the straps. The original has welded joints. (2) triple chrome plated cold rolled steel. Original is Stainless Steel. (3) No stamp. That's it! The cushions and straps are made with the same techniques and materials. (Aniline hides, individually cut and sewn squares). Questions? Gimme a call 800.243.1955 ask for Chris.