Pair of armchairs: Germany, ca. 1970.

Pair of armchairs: Germany, c. 1970.
Olive wood and leather.
Measurements: 100 x 85 x 75 cm (x2).
Carved from solid olive wood, this pair of armchairs stands out for the quality of its craftsmanship. The complex structure, achieved through thick, curved elements assembled with precision, demonstrates a deep understanding of the mechanical properties of wood and remarkable skill in its working. Olive wood, prized for its stability and rich color, also provides a surface of great visual warmth, where the irregular grain and natural hues make each piece unique. The seat and backrest, crafted from a single continuous strip of stretched leather, create an elegant hallmark of contrast between the solidity of the structure and the flexibility of the surface that cradles the body, providing simple yet effective ergonomics.
From a formal standpoint, the armchairs reflect the interest in biomorphic forms that characterized much of European design in the 1960s and 1970s. The legs, armrests, and connecting elements flow into one another through continuous curves that evoke both skeletal structures and plant forms, blurring the boundaries between architecture and sculpture. The absence of superfluous elements and the expressiveness inherent in the material itself place these pieces within the realm of so-called “studio furniture” and the artisanal movements that championed the uniqueness of the object over mass production. In Germany, this type of furniture found a particularly favorable context thanks to the continued existence of a strong cabinetmaking tradition and the growing interest in natural materials during the 1970s. At a time marked by the expansion of industrial production, numerous designers revived manual techniques and the use of fine woods in response to the standardization of domestic furniture.