Carles Riart

CARLES RIART (Barcelona, 1944).
Armchair. Early-period design.
Black-lacquered wood. Cushions filled with down.
The seat and backrest slide out gradually.
In good condition. Vintage item with no functional defects but exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 84 x 67 x 75 cm.

Early-period design, from around 1969, when he opened the Gris interior design studio and shop in Barcelona alongside Bigas Luna. There, he began a meticulous production of furniture characterized by a focus on artisanal cabinetmaking techniques, often avant-garde reinterpretations of traditional furniture. His work has received numerous awards both in Spain and abroad, including the 2011 National Design Award.

This armchair, designed by Carles Riart, is part of his signature style of reinterpreting traditional furniture from a contemporary and artisanal perspective. The straight, geometric lines reinterpret the tradition of folk furniture with a rationalist and modern twist. The sides feature vertical slats, lending a sense of visual lightness despite the solidity of the solid wood.

Carles Riart is a renowned Catalan designer and interior designer. Trained as a designer at the Eina School, his expertise in cabinetmaking has enabled him to create designs using techniques more typical of craftsmanship than of industry, often working with very limited series or even one-of-a-kind pieces, and employing traditional methods. However, some of his works have been featured in the catalogs of companies such as Muebles Casas, Disform, Mirexsa, Mobles 114, Santa & Cole, Tramo, and Knoll International.