Wooden Chair

MARC NEWSON (B. 1963)

Wooden Chair

beech

32 1/4 × 40 1/2 × 27 1/2 inches (82 × 103 × 70 cm)

Designed in 1992 and made by Cappellini.

NOTES:

Crafted initially for the Crafts Council of New South Wales' exhibition The House of Fiction: Domestic Blueprints in Wood, Marc Newson's Wood Chair stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of form and function. Initially constructed by Newson's own company, Pod, using Canadian rock maple and Australian coachwood, the chair's design exemplifies his commitment to pushing material boundaries.

The chair's structure comprises slatted beech wood strips, meticulously steam-bent to form a continuous 'double curve' or 'alpha' shape. This fluid form sees the backrest extend seamlessly down and around to create the seat and supports, reinforced by horizontal bracing at each end and at three points around the curve of the seat. 

In the early 1990s, Italian manufacturer Cappellini introduced the Wood Chair into production, making slight modifications such as a more reclined seat back and the use of beech hardwood in place of the original materials. Today, the chair remains in production, embodying Newson's vision of transforming rigid materials into organic, sculptural forms. Its presence in esteemed institutions like the Museum of Modern Art underscores its significance in the realm of contemporary design. Through the Wood Chair, Marc Newson redefines the possibilities of wood craftsmanship, creating a piece that is both functional furniture and a work of art.