What started as a humble bar stool crafted for one of New York’s most exclusive clubs, APT, in 1999 has grown into a design icon, celebrated over 25 years through reimagined iterations, museum showcases, and countless collaborations. That design is the Bishop, a hallmark creation by the renowned Iranian-French architect and designer India Mahdavi. To mark the Bishop’s 25th anniversary, Mahdavi has dedicated the 17th edition of Project Room, her ongoing series of exhibitions and installations spotlighting design from around the world, to this versatile masterpiece.
It’s fitting that the Bishop draws it name from a chess piece. “When I set out to design a bar stool, it was because I wanted to create something that didn’t yet exist – a sculptural piece that, when grouped together, would evoke the look of a chess set. The bishop on a chessboard became my inspiration,” Mahdavi shares. However, what some may not know is that the original design evolved before becoming the iconic Bishop we recognize today. “The original Bishop had a strong graphic presence but felt too specific for broader use, so I reimagined it as a versatile piece – a hybrid between a stool and a side table.” Later on, while working on a hospitality project in Mexico City, Mahdavi discovered the tactile yet visually warm properties of ceramics. This led her to create her first ceramic edition of the Bishop piece.
Mahdavi’s Project Room #17, Bishop: 25 Years, is a beautiful retrospective that showcases the design’s evolution over the years. Since its inception, the Bishop has transformed into various materials, scales, and functions. Over its 25-year history, it has spawned a family of designs, including the Baby Bishop stool and the Cocktail table. The Peanut unites two Bishops into a single piece, while the COD (Complément d’Objet Direct) is a side table version. Variations of the design have earned permanent placements in museum collections: the Bishop Or resides at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, while the Bishop Primadonna is housed at the Centre Georges Pompidou. There are even salt and pepper shaker versions.
To further celebrate this milestone, Mahdvai has partnered with Palomas, a fine chocolatier in Lyon, to create edible versions of the Bishop. Scaled down to bite-sized forms, Bishops are crafted from rich Peruvian dark chocolate and feature six hidden Iranian pistachios in each piece. Presented in a mauve tray – a nod to Iranian miniaturist Reza Abbassi’s signature color, the chocolates come in packaging adorned with Mahdavi’s Criss Cross pattern, a modern interpretation of the classic tartan motif.
With its timeless design and playful reiterations, the Bishop continues to captivate and inspire, proving great design knows no bounds. Whether showcased in museums, repurposed in new forms, or even reimagined as edible art, the Bishop stands as a testament to Mahdavi’s enduring work and her ability to blend functionality with artistic expression.
To learn more about the Bishop’s history, visit india-mahdavi.com.
Exhibition photography by Thierry Depagne.
