The “Ode to Chair 14,” designed by Jiri Krejcirik for the Czech Republic-based furniture design company Ton, embodies the essence of the classic Chair 14 by Thonet, the German-Austrian furniture manufacturer most known for its bent-wood chair designs. The Ode to Chair 14 relishes wood bending technique. This tribute to the classic chair is a great reminder that some designs are unforgettable, and the Thonet chair is an unfazed proof of this. Created in 1859, the first Chair 14 was designed by Michael Thonet himself and mass-produced, selling millions of pieces worldwide. Since then, the chair has been revived and reimagined many times with a refreshing and modern perspective.
The chair has been around for over 160 years, proving the timeless quality of this legendary design and construction technique. The “Ode to Chair 14” takes a fresh take on this utilitarian model and turns it into a modern sculptural piece.
The base mirrors the original design, with a twisting element of the backrest, circular seat, and four-curved legs supporting the top. The bent wooden circles of the backrest are the underlining aspect of the chair that according to the designer commemorates the mind-blowing bending technique of both Ton and Thonet.
It stands apart with its ultramarine tone with a lustrous finish, which looks more like it’s made of steel. However, the chair is crafted from bent beech wood, the same material used for the original Chair 14.
Staying true to the inspiration, nothing much has been changed or modified, just the ultramarine ode with extravagant back gives the chair a sculptural quality, embedded with Jiri’s signature style. With all the embellishment, this brilliant piece still keeps the simplistic structural characteristic of the Chair 14.
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No new mold has been used for its creation, as the designer used the mold already available in Ton production. This idea was utilized to marry the past, present, and future in a captivating design that feels like a breath of fresh air, despite being around for centuries. We love a modern and artistic way to keep the spirit of the past and the heritage alive in a rather contemporary design.
The “Ode to Chair 14” does it more distinctively and communicates deep-rooted sentiments through a visual language, by reimagining a timeless seating object and recreating an everlasting and tangible replica of it. Find out more about this wonderful chair at this year’s Salone del Mobile.
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