House of Reps Richard Sapper Management Chairs

Few office chairs genuinely earn icon status, and even fewer come with a story worth telling. The Richard Sapper Management Chair is one of them. Designed in 1979 for Knoll, it has long been admired for the way it balances comfort, intelligence and quiet authority — the kind of chair that looks right in a serious space without ever feeling showy.

Richard Sapper was a designer who believed good design should work hard without drawing attention to itself. That thinking is clear here. The chair’s clean lines, supportive form and beautifully resolved details make it comfortable for long hours, while its restrained appearance allows it to sit confidently in both modern and classic interiors. It’s a piece that feels just as relevant today as it did when it was first designed.

Some of the chairs we have available are upholstered in grey and were used in the House of Representatives at Australian Parliament House in Canberra. These are authentic working chairs from parliamentary offices, carrying with them a rare sense of place and purpose. The grey upholstery is soft, neutral and timeless, making these chairs easy to live with while quietly reflecting their distinguished past.

We also have high-back versions upholstered in black, sourced from another prestigious Australian government department. These offer a slightly more commanding look, with the added support of a higher back and the classic confidence of black upholstery. Like the parliamentary chairs, they were chosen for demanding executive environments where quality and durability mattered.

Whether from Parliament House or another respected national institution, an authentic Richard Sapper Management Chair offers world-class design pedigree, rare Australian government provenance and timeless styling that works just as well in a home study as it does in a professional setting. Functional, collectible and quietly authoritative, these chairs remain one of the great achievements in executive seating.