The trend of reviving vintage furniture continues to grow. The latest is the Monk chair by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, reissued by Molteni&C. Initially designed in 1973 for the Molteni family’s country home, the chair evokes a design philosophy of simplicity, honesty, and craftsmanship. It is a sleek and comfy wooden chair, with front and rear legs connected by a suspended leather seat.
For the original design, Afra and Tobia Scarpa focused on highlighting the natural beauty of the materials, which was carefully expressed through the chosen shapes and finishes. The seat and backrest, made of leather stretched over two steel tubes, make the chair highly comfortable.
The wooden legs are paired in twos to showcase how the crosspieces connect. Scarpa envisioned the Monk chair as a simple design made of a few well-crafted parts that come together to form high-quality furniture.
The name “Monk” reflects the chair’s simple, clean, and almost monastic style. It also refers to the letter “M,” a common feature in Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s designs for Molteni&C. The Monk chair’s structure became a model for their later work, including the 1981 Mastro chair, which featured a similar seat with thinner legs.
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Staying true to the original design, the new Monk chair features a solid wood frame in American walnut, black oak, or coffee oak. It is made of two matching trestles connected by shaped metal tubing that forms one piece for the seat and back. The trestles are joined with two pairs of screws, accented by large burnished steel hubs. The seat uses two shaped leather sections for comfort, available in any color from the Molteni&C collection.
The Monk chair is defined by its minimalistic aesthetic, highlighting the expressive qualities of leather against solid wood. Eight burnished steel rivets securing the seat to the frame bring a decorative accent to the design. The Monk chair is also proposed in a lower and wider armchair version to enhance modern living spaces.
Via: Archiproducts
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