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This one set of chairs especially drew me in. They were very simple, just three pieces of wood for the seat and back, and four legs. The surfaces were rough too, coarsely planed or drawknifed. I loved them, and have since been trying to organize my thoughts as to why these simple chairs stood out to me.
It's not that they're rustic. I'm not a fan of what's usually called "rustic furniture." To me, that seems to refer to a dark-stained pine, overbuilt, heavy-legged style. It looks like logs made into stuff. I see the appeal, but it's not so much my thing.
Not knowing what else to call it, I refer to my preferred style as everyday vernacular. "Everyday" because it was made to be used, and "vernacular" because it belongs in a domestic setting, i.e. not fancy. These pieces do what's asked of them: a table that's made to fit and hold what it needs to hold, a step stool that's secure to stand on and tall enough for the task, etc...
I love when these pieces are also aesthetically "considered." When there's design there. Plain, but not ugly. Not made to look distressed, but eventually worn-in, like an old pair of shoes. It's the minimal design considerations that I'm most drawn to. With this chair, I wonder about the choice to taper the legs. The long depth of the seat. The somewhat overly-reclined angle of the seat back. These design choices take it a step beyond basic, but it maintains a simplicity that doesn't draw attention. It's just being a chair, looking like a chair, and when I sit in it, it's comfortable enough that I don't think about it.
I'm sure this is why I'm drawn to the Japanese aesthetic and joinery as well as Shaker and Scandinavian design. There's not much flashiness. Just well-made and carefully considered furniture.
I believe that there's a kind of letting go that's needed when you make a chair like this. I'm not saying I want to let go of quality, but more to let go of the need to be seen. I'm happy to make pieces that are less conspicuous and yet still hold on to beauty and functionality.
There's humility in a chair like that. And ideally a perfectly comfortable place to sit.
–Will |
