About The Project
This white oak chair was made as my donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota. Every February the club hosts the A Chair Affair fundraising gala. The gala is a prestigious black-tie social event, selling out over 500 tickets each year, A Chair Affair has raised millions of dollars for Rochester youth in need. Artisan-made chairs are auctioned at the gala, with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club. This chair was the highest bidded chair at the 2020 gala.
The chair is similar to the Cherry Dining Room chairs. It features a tapered bent laminated back. The high backed chairs are based on a 1950’s design by Danish designers Bob and Dries Van Den Berghe. The backs are made from five plies which were cut from thick white oak planks. The outer two plies run the length of the back, while the three inner plies are wedge shaped, with each ply being a different length. The bottom starts with five plies, ending in two at the top. When glued together the resulting back gracefully tapers from the base to the top. Each individual ply is bendable, but once glued together the back is rigid, but yet has enough spring for added comfort. Typical chairs have four legs. The three legged design of these chairs adds visual interest. The front legs of the end chairs extend up to support the graceful armrests.
While the chair may look a bit harsh, it is extremely comfortable. A main reason for this comfort was the input from my wife who was a physical therapist. Multiple mockups were made to ensure the correct seat height, curve and canter of the back.
