T he 1980s produced chairs that are instantly recognisable. Not all were comfortable (in fact the No 2 chair by Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons in 1983 had a deliberately uncomfortable seat made from metal chain). But they’ve subsequently become design classics that work as well as architectural accessories as they do as practical furniture. Here are a few favourites.

by Vico Magistretti An industrial designer based in Milan, Vico Magistretti designed this aluminium and polypropylene chair in 1989 for Maddalena de Padova. Magistretti was inspired by the 1859 Thonet Bentwood chair, but decades on Silver is a design classic that’s functional, elegant and democratic. Available with or without armrests. £499, depadova.com

by Donald Judd The American artist Donald Judd started to design furniture in the early 1970s for his studio and home on Spring Street in the Soho district of New York. By 1984 he had created a range in wood and metal, including beds, desks, benches, shelves, and this chair made of traffic yellow-painted aluminium. $8,000 to order, judd.furniture

by Pierluigi Cerri Poltrona Frau has reintroduced the Overture sofa by the architect and designer Pierluigi Cerri 40 years after the original launch. Overstuffed, squidgy upholstery floats over the metal structure and perforated base – which the designer called “brutalist” – making a strong contrast between the colourful leather or fabric cushions and the industrial frame. Available as a two-seater, a large two-seater and a three-seater. £11,220, poltronafrau.com

by Shiro Kuramata This 1986 chair by Shiro Kuramata, below, named after a Duke Ellington song, is constructed of nickel-plated rib mesh, evoking weightlessness and moonlight. Kuramata is one of Japan’s most celebrated designers, known for exploring new materials for furniture, such as acrylic. How High the Moon was produced by the Swiss company Vitra until 2009 and forms part of its highly collectable Vitra Edition; this one sold for €11,970 (£10,600) at Sotheby’s last year. vitra.com

by Rei Kawakubo With a deliberately uncomfortable seat made from metal chain, this steel chair is one of a series from 1983 created by the Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons. They were used in the brand’s clothing stores and offered for sale. Today the pieces are rare and highly coveted. The Paris gallery A1043 has a good selection. POA, A1043.com

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