Chaise Tout Bois
Chaise
Tout Bois is the only chair by the French 'constructeur' and designer Jean
Prouvé that is made entirely out of wood. The design is very similar to
Prouvé's famous Standard chair, but wood was substituted for the metal base due
to the scarcity of metal during the Second World War. The form of the Chaise Tout
Bois articulates Prouvé's intention to provide added strength at the transition
point between the seat and backrest, where the load weight of the human anatomy
is greatest. The profile of the rear frame section – back legs and backrest
support – makes reference to this load transfer and is a typical characteristic
of Prouvé's designs for both furniture and architecture.
Prouvé created several prototypes of this chair during the
war for the purpose of testing its structural strength as well as the joints,
leg position and connection between the seat and back. The chosen type of wood
depended on what was available at the time. After the war, there was once again
a sufficient supply of oak, which due to its hardness and strength was commonly
used in France to construct ships and cathedral roofs. As these properties are
also ideal for an all-wood chair, the Chaise Tout Bois was ultimately made out
of oak and plywood – also offered in dark-stained versions when requested by
Jean Prouvé's customers.
In
1947, Prouvé won an award for the Chaise Tout Bois in the 'Meubles de France'
competition. The concept of the competition was to find attractive,
high-quality, mass-produced furnishings to meet the post-war needs of society –
particularly refugees and young married couples. Later the Chaise Tout Bois was
replaced by a knock-down version in metal and wood, which was then supplanted
by Model No. 305, likewise combining a metal base with a wooden seat and
backrest – known today as the Standard chair.
Chaise Tout Bois by Vitra corresponds to one of Jean Prouvé's
design variants from 1941, whose construction does not require a single screw.
The height and seat geometry are the same as those of the Standard chair and
thus meet current norms and requirements. The warm look and feel of wood
contrasts appealingly with the practical structural design, which is typical of
Prouvé's functional approach. Chaise Tout Bois is available in light oak or
dark-stained oak.
About Designer | |
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Jean Prouvé |
Jean Prouvé completed his
training as a metal artisan before opening his own workshop in Nancy in 1924.
In the following years he created numerous furniture designs, and in 1947
Prouvé established his own factory. Due to disagreements with the majority shareholders,
he left the company in 1953. During the ensuing decades, Prouvé served as a
consulting engineer on a number of important architectural projects in Paris. |