A reflection of German furniture history
L&C stendal is a company with an eventful, typically German history. Founded as L.&C. Arnold in 1871 by father Louis and son Carl Arnold, the company has been a pioneer in metal processing in the furniture industry. During the 1920s the company becomes Europe’s leading tubular steel manufacturer with 1,400 employees that produces a wide range of more than 600 models, among that garden furniture, beds, chairs, coat racks and tables.
In the 1920s, the company’s proximity to Bauhaus in Dessau proved to be a lucky coincidence. The Bauhaus community wanted to collaborate with the industry, and L&C Arnold in Stendal proved to be a partner who was equally keen to experiment. This led to visionary ideas, the joint production of prototypes, and successful competitive contributions. 1927 L&C shows a first cantilever chair designed by Mart Stam at the Werkbundausstellung in Stuttgart. In 1930 in Stendal, the serial production of chrome-plated tubular steel furniture for the interior started. Various further Bauhaus designs are realised, among these 36 drafts by Marcel Breuer exclusively produced by L&C.
1936 the company gains international popularity through the equipment of the Hindenburg zeppelin with very light aluminium cantilever chairs and tables.
1945 the production site becomes public property and continues to produces tubular steel furniture for public and private areas as STIMA. After the German reunification the company is reintegrated in the parent company.
In the 1990s in-house Bauhaus classics are reproduced and among other things are used for the historic Bauhaus Mensa in Dessau. During the following years re-designs from the 1950s as well as new designs complement L&C stendal’s portfolio. 1997 the brand L&C stendal is officially introduced to the market and produced chairs and tables for object spaces as well as large-capacity seating with various complementing furniture pieces. Both cantilever chairs, sofas, coat racks, cupboards and upmarket Bauhaus models as well as functional and ergonomic lounge and home furnishings are part of the company’s portfolio.
For more than 125 years L&C stendal has succeeded in realising its goals: great design with character as a result of upmarket German craftsmanship. Not many furniture manufacturers exist who can reflect on that many years of company history. L&C stendal always understood to create value from its experience and past thereby directly living history. To this day following this tradition, the company develops and produces high-quality tubular steel products. Tubular-steel captivates as a material that besides its timeless elegance and versatility combines qualities like robustness with lightness. In order to guarantee best quality and flexibility the entire value chain still remains in Germany. The combined knowledge from over one century about the art of careful tubular steel processing directly flows into L&C stendal’s furniture design and daily production. The designers with whom the company works together are very able and keen to find innovative sides to the tubular steel material and constantly amaze with new product ideas.
Characteristic design makes each product special and gives it its individual touch.
L&C stendal has developed from mass production in the 1920s to a manufactory with a deep vertical range of manufacture in 2016, enabling short processes and quick decisions. Its in-house electroplating is a strong trait to agility and gives room for individual customer orders and the short-term implementation of special custom-made articles.
Many things changed since 1871 – what remains is quality and design with character.
