Dutch 'The Rock' Leather Lounge Chair by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, 1970s

A Dutch ‘The Rock’ lounge chair designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis in the 1970s, shaped as a continuous volume of leather that feels almost sculpted rather than upholstered.

The chair sits low to the ground, widening through the seat before rising into a tall, gently curved back. Its exaggerated proportions create a deep, enveloping place to sit, while the inward sweep of the sides gives the substantial form a sense of movement. Piped edges trace the silhouette, emphasizing the chair’s distinctive curves from every angle.

Upholstered entirely in cognac leather, the surface has developed a rich, varied patina through decades of use. Creasing, tonal variation, and areas of wear remain visible throughout, particularly along the seat and edges, giving the leather a softness and character that could only come with age. Seams running vertically and horizontally across the front and back quietly reveal how the leather has been constructed around the chair’s form.

It is this combination of scale and softness that makes ‘The Rock’ so compelling. There is little separation between structure and upholstery, the leather appears to wrap the chair from top to bottom, leaving only small feet visible beneath its base.

About Gerard Van Den Berg
Gerard Van Den Berg is a Dutch designer celebrated for his relaxed yet sculptural approach to seating. Trained in furniture design and co-founder of Montis in 1974, he helped shape a new language for modern living in the Netherlands. His pieces—often generous in scale, upholstered in supple leathers, and marked by organic, flowing forms—balance comfort with an architectural presence.

By the early 1990s, Van Den Berg established his own studio, continuing to develop designs with the same spirit of ease and informality that defined his Montis years. His later work broadened into collaborations with other European manufacturers, yet remained rooted in a signature aesthetic: furniture that invites the body to sink, unwind, and inhabit space with ease.