Geoffrey Harcourt F518 Lip Chair for Artifort in Blue Velvet

There is no mistaking the F518. Its silhouette, a sensual curve that mirrors the human mouth, is one of the most playful and recognisable forms in Dutch furniture design. Geoffrey Harcourt designed it for Artifort in 1977, and it has been provoking smiles and sparking conversations ever since.

This particular F518 has been reupholstered in Yeti Velours by Nobilis Paris, and the result is spectacular. The deep blue fabric has a natural sheen that accentuates the chair's sculptural curves, catching light in a way that makes the form appear almost liquid. Running your fingers across the velvet surface reveals a tactile richness that photographs cannot convey.

The construction is classic Artifort: a steel frame provides the skeleton, high-density foam sculpts the distinctive lip shape, and the upholstery wraps everything into a single, seamless form. The proportions are generous at 85 by 85 centimetres, offering genuine comfort alongside visual drama.

Harcourt's F518 belongs to a lineage of pop-inspired furniture that emerged in the 1970s, when designers began treating seating as commentary rather than mere utility. The lip motif, playful yet sophisticated, reflects an era when furniture could be both functional and witty. Unlike many pop designs that feel dated, the F518's quality of construction and material gives it a timelessness that transcends trends.

In a living room, a bedroom, or a creative studio, this chair is a statement piece in the most literal sense. It starts conversations, defines spaces, and reminds everyone who encounters it that great design should bring joy.