Óscar Tusquets

ÓSCAR TUSQUETS I BLANCA (Barcelona, 1941) for Kettal.
Set of 6 “Urogallo” Chairs. Version without armrests. 1996.
Cast aluminum, hand-patinated with a special paint.
Bears the designer’s and manufacturer’s marks.
In good overall condition, consistent with its age and use.
Measurements: 45 cm (seat height); 45 cm (seat depth); 85 cm (backrest height).

Armless version of the Urogallo Chair, one of the most iconic and recognizable pieces of late 20th-century Spanish design. Designed by Oscar Tusquets in 1996 for the firm Kettal, it is a masterful example of how organic inspiration can blend with an industrial material like aluminum. The design is a zoomorphic abstraction of this bird, the capercaillie—specifically, the fan-shaped tail that the male spreads during his courtship display. Thus, the defining feature of the chair is its wide, fan-shaped backrest.

The entire body of the chair (seat and backrest) is covered with a pattern of circular cutouts of varying sizes. This openwork not only visually lightens the piece and creates a play of light and shadow but also mimics the pattern of “eyes” (ocelli) in the bird’s tail feathers. Furthermore, it serves a practical function—especially for outdoor use—by allowing water to drain away.

The Urogallo chair is also a technical triumph, cast as a single piece from aluminum. The use of cast aluminum allows for complete formal fluidity. The backrest, seat, and rear legs appear to emerge from a single central trunk, with no visible joints or seams, reinforcing its organic character. The structure of the legs is unique. The two rear legs are a direct extension of the central column of the backrest. The two front legs, on the other hand, spread out to the sides, providing great stability and a counterpoint to the verticality of the backrest. The model we are submitting—which lacks armrests—emphasizes the clean lines of the silhouette and allows the expansive form of the backrest to take center stage, making it visually light and versatile.

Óscar Tusquets is an architect, painter, and designer who trained at the Escuela de La Lonja in Barcelona and at the ETSAB. In 1964, he founded Studio PER alongside Lluís Clotet, with whom he collaborated regularly until 1984. During this period, he participated in the expansion of the Barcelona School of Medicine (1980) and the renovation of the Palau de la Música Catalana (1982). In 1987, he partnered with architect Carlos Díaz, with whom he carried out projects in various countries, including Japan and Germany. He has been awarded the FAD’s Delta de Oro prize on several occasions, and in 1987 he received the Cross of Sant Jordi.