Cesca

Cesca most often refers to the Cesca chair, a landmark in modern furniture design. Designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928 during the Bauhaus era, it is a cantilever chair that helped popularize tubular steel in seating. The chair combines a chromium-plated steel frame with a seat and back made from cane wicker or fabric, producing a lightweight yet sturdy form.

The frame uses a continuous, curved steel tube that provides the cantilevered support, while the seating surface is typically woven cane or upholstered. It was produced by Thonet and by other manufacturers, becoming one of the best-known early applications of tubular steel in mass-produced furniture. The Cesca chair is often cited for its combination of industrial materials with human-scale comfort and its simple, functional aesthetics.

Impact and legacy: The Cesca chair reinforced Bauhaus principles of form following function and helped establish the acceptability of tubular steel in modern interiors. It influenced postwar furniture design and remains in active production through various manufacturers, with numerous variants and restorations in museums and contemporary settings. It is widely regarded as an icon of 20th-century design.

Other uses: Cesca is also used as a feminine given name, often as a short form of Francesca, in various cultural contexts. The term can therefore refer to both the design landmark and, less commonly, as a personal name.