Classics from a museum

Jun 17, 2026

I'm Christine, and it's my pleasure to guide you through our blog post for the first time today. I immediately stumbled upon an exciting story about one of our pieces that I wanted to share with you.

In our warehouse, you'll find countless design classics in every row. For example, I recently noticed the Rolf Benz 6500.

Did you know that this design was already exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York? For those who briefly falter: MoMA is not just any art museum, but the absolute Champions League. When the curators in New York decide that a sofa can be displayed there, it's like a knighting for the designer. Not many German furniture manufacturers can claim to land there.

Rolf Benz 6500 Entwurf — Design from 1985: Older than the internet, but already ahead of its time back then

But then the question arises: how and who actually decides when something is considered a design classic? There is no official seal, no committee, and MoMA doesn't determine it either. Strictly speaking, the term is not legally protected at all. Theoretically, you can call anything a design classic.

In practice, however, it's not quite so arbitrary. The most important criterion is time, because good design survives trends. By this, I mean the visual aspect. While the good old tile table (though practical) has undeniably gone out of fashion, our Rolf Benz 6500 already found a design language in 1985 that still looks just as modern today as it did over 40 years ago.

On the other hand, it's also about literal survival. For a piece of furniture to even have a chance of becoming a classic, it first has to prove its longevity over years or decades. This requires stable constructions, careful craftsmanship, and, above all, high-quality materials, such as leather, solid wood, or metal.

That's precisely why you find so many genuine design classics in our warehouse. They have survived the test of time, remaining stable, durable, and valuable.

More Design Classics