Robin Miner

Hello From Cannes!

Amazing these simple chairs fascinated me so much I came home and did some research they are everywhere I hope you enjoy what I found out about them.  I sat for hours and knitted and watched all the wonderful people.  I find this is a regular stop for me on my daily walks to read or knit.  Some days I just sit and just enjoy where I am. 

In 1950 with the increase of tourism to Nice, the Ville de Nice ordered 800 chairs from a certain Monsieur Ballanger who held the concession for renting out chairs on the Promenade des Anglais. These could be hired for a modest sum, for which, upon payment you would be handed a receipt with the words “droit de s’asseoir” (permission to sit).

Why Blue?
Of course – the big question is why are these chairs blue? Is it be to be in harmony with the azure sea or pay homage to the workers, dressed in blue overalls, who repaired the Promenade des Anglais after the WW2? In fact, it is neither. It is simply because that particular shade of blue was in vogue when holidays along the Riviera (and particularly Nice and Cannes) became fashionable in the 1950s.

Giant 2-Dimensional Blue Chair
On Saturday, 4th October 2014, a giant 2-dimensional blue chair was unveiled by Christian Estrosi, deputy-mayor of Nice and President of the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur in the presence of the Niçoise artist, Sabine Géraudite.  Entitled “Oeuvre de SAB inspirée de la Chaise bleue de la Promenade des Anglais” (translation: Work of SAB inspired by the Promenade des Anglais blue chair) it is an homage the artist wanted to make to these iconic chairs for many years.

Change of Design
In the 1970s, the Ville de Nice commissioned another batch of chairs with a company based in the Haute Loire.

The present model, redesigned by the French designer and architect, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, were painted sky blue to complement the azure waters of the Baie des Anges, and placed on the Promenade in 1996. The Ville de Nice ordered 2,000 of these very elegant chairs, but due to “misappropriation” (ie. stolen as they could be easily picked up) only around 700 were left.

During clashes involving anti-capitalist demonstrators that erupted at the European Union summit in Nice in 2000, dozens of the blue chairs had to be withdrawn from service after they had been hurled at riot police and damaged.