Vis Leyden Chair Pays Homage to Power and Energy in Its Molten Form

Bulbous furniture really adds to the character of any room. So does this chair, except for the fact that it not only looks bulbous but is a sculptural piece that shines in every space. The Vis Leyden chair by Yury Goncharov holds energy in its meaning and form, while its silhouette takes after molten glass or metal. The seat is inspired by one of the earliest devices capable of storing electrical energy.

The chair gets its name from two inspirations. Vis is a Latin word meaning strength and inner power, while the second word, Leyden, is inspired by the Dutch city Leiden, where the Leyden jar was invented. This was the first device capable of storing an electrical charge, created in the 18th century.

“The chair embodies the idea of energy held in a compressed state. Its form appears tense, as if it is containing a powerful force that is on the verge of being released,” shared Yury Goncharov with Homecrux.

The designer has given energy and inner power a materialistic form through the chair. The full and curvaceous volume signifies the matter and energy at its highest concentration packed inside an object. The energy seems to wait to be released from inside the voluminous form.  

The finished object features a metallic foil layer on its surface that takes its idea from the construction of the Leyden jar. For its construction, metal shells were important for storing electrical energy. The metallic particles look like little sparkles scattered all over the surface. This is supposed to resemble energy slowly but steadily escaping its form.

Talking further, Goncharov says that the spark-like inclusions on the chair surface are to evoke traces of electrical discharges that once passed through it. These transform the object into a physical record of invisible energy, one where material is witness to a scientific discovery that forever changed our understanding of the world.

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The material used for the chair is painted eco-polymer with a hard coating and copper leaf shade. Measuring 30 x 39 x 35 inches, the Vis Leyden chair explores the relationship between energy and matter, the energy that the physical object stores. Using the chair connects the user to the energy gradually radiating from within.

Goncharov told Homecrux, “The collection will continue with a second piece titled Discharge Wand – a table inspired by the discharge rod used to safely release the electrical charge stored inside the Leyden jar. Together, these two objects form a dialogue, extending both the visual language and the conceptual narrative of one of the earliest breakthroughs in the history of electricity.”