(smow) blog compact 1st of May Special: Frères Bouroullec versus Gebrüder Thonet

By way of a 1st of May, International Workers’ Day, special…… in Milan Ronan Bouroullec told us that the brother’s new chair Uncino for Italian produce Mattiazzi was inspired by and loosely based on the very first wooden office chairs.

An excellent example of what he meant can currently be enjoyed at the exhibition Sitting – Lying – Swinging. Furniture from Thonet at the Grassi Museum for Applied Arts, Leipzig.

A comparison: Uncino by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi vs. an 1875 Swivel Office Chair by Gebrüder Thonet Vienna.

Uncino by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi, as seen at Milan Furniture Fair 2014

An 1875 Swivel Office Chair by Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna, as seen at Sitting – Lying – Swinging. Furniture from Thonet at the Grassi Museum for Applied Arts, Leipzig.