Silver Furniture Design · 2022
Gis Chair
- A' Design Award 2022 Silver Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Hamoun
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 40,119
- Verification code 90F071660C · Verify this award
About Gis Chair
Gis is a three legged wooden chair with bronze feet and is carved out from two walnut logs with exquisite craftsmanship to seem as a sculpture. The wood knots and scars are remained exposed to give the objects a special characteristic. Despite its uncanny appearance, Gis is ergonomic due to the careful design of curves and angles. The design is an exploration of solid wood possibilities and also is a walk on the edge of Art and Design, Beauty and Function.
Sepehr Mehrdadfar's Gis Chair emerges from a distinguished lineage of studio furniture practice that privileges the dialogue between maker and material, positioning itself within contemporary craft traditions that celebrate wood as a medium capable of both structural integrity and poetic expression. The work demonstrates exceptional technical accomplishment in its realization of continuous compound curves carved from solid walnut, a demanding process requiring intimate understanding of grain direction, material stress patterns, and the sculptural possibilities inherent in subtractive carving techniques. The shell-like seat form achieves remarkable ergonomic intelligence through its embrace of organic geometry, the gentle concavity suggesting accommodation of the human body while the soaring back provides visual drama and physical support in equal measure. Three elegantly attenuated legs extend from the seat basin with zoomorphic grace, their muscular swelling and tapered ankles evoking the dynamism of animal anatomy while providing stable triangulated support. The integration of polished brass ferrules introduces material contrast that serves both protective function and aesthetic punctuation, the warm metallic glow harmonizing with the timber's amber undertones. Particularly noteworthy is the designer's decision to preserve natural wood characteristics including grain variation, subtle checking, and tonal irregularities that testify to the material's botanical origins and the uniqueness of each individual piece. The work participates in ongoing conversations about the relationship between craft and design, functionality and sculpture, tradition and innovation that animate contemporary furniture discourse. What might this chair reveal about our enduring human desire to transform natural materials into objects that serve the body while nourishing the spirit through their beauty?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Gis is a three-legged wooden chair with bronze feet and is carved out from two walnut logs with exquisite craftsmanship to seem as a sculpture. The wood knots and scars are remained exposed to give the objects a special characteristic. Despite its uncanny appearance, Gis is ergonomic due to the careful design of curves and angles. The design is an exploration of solid wood possibilities and also is a walk on the edge of "Art" and "Design", "Beauty" and "Function".
- Dimensions & Packaging
- width 600mm
depth 1000 mm
height 800 mm - Tags
- Design, Chair, Furniture, Art, Persian, Contemporary
- Production Technology
- Materials: Walnut Solid Wood, Bronze.
Completely Handcrafted. - Design Challenge
- The holy grail of this design was to reach a sculptural Persian aesthetic as the sprit for the body of “furniture design”.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2019 and finished in September 2019 in Tehran, Iran and was exhibited as a part of "Konj-e-Hess" exhibition.
- Operation Flow
- Gis has sculptural qualities in its presence in the interior space. This chair is designed with an artistic approach in design to be a "good chair" and also an elegence piece of "art".
- Research
- This chair is a part of the Konj-e-Hess collection.
This collection is an exploration through which we try to answer a question: “Unrelated to the surrounding space, can we create objects that intrinsically radiate a place of their own, and create a “Konj-e-Hess”.
Konj-e-Hess was after a new measuring unit for aesthetics in design. Quite similar to how Iran and its culture sit in the middle on the world map, Konj-e-Hess tells a centrist narrative too. Somewhere on a sharp blade, it cuts off “tenacious design assumptions”; preconceived notions of the sort that “Media” inundates our minds with. - Inspiration
- Gis has odd yet familiar visual qualities. That is why it steals the spotlight and sets its own place. The main leg's dainty form is inspired by a girl's ponytail; the premise from which the chair takes its name from. In Farsi, "Gis" means the tumble of a woman’s hair.
- Image Credits
- Main Image: Photo by Kaj Art Group
Image #1: Photo by Kaj Art Group
Image #2: Photo by Sepehr Mehrdadfar, Hamoun
Image #3: Photo by Sepehr Mehrdadfar, Hamoun
Image #4: Photo by Sepehr Mehrdadfar, Hamoun
Colors of Gis Chair
Get Gis Chair
Bespoke Furniture Design with Persian Contemporary Aesthetics
We create sculptural furniture that balances artistry with function. Our Tehran-based studio specializes in handcrafted wooden pieces that evoke emotion while serving purpose. Drawing from Persian heritage, we design bespoke furniture that transforms interiors into meaningful spaces.
G0E23 ShopGrand Interview about Gis Chair
This is a thoughtful question. In designing Gis, my goal was to create a form that is both timeless and innovative, familiar yet fresh. Instead of relying on well-known Iranian motifs, I drew from a deep, intuitive connection with my cultural heritage. This intuitive process, influenced by my visual and Iranian subconscious, allowed me to blend traditional beauty with modern functionality seamlessly.
Addressing the ergonomic challenges in Gis was straightforward. The comfort and usability were ensured through the design of the chair's upper surface, the part that directly contacts the body. The sculptural essence of the chair, however, lies in its lower surface and legs, which demanded specific design emphasis. To highlight these areas, I incorporated distinctive curves and, in the final stage, added bronze to the ends of the legs to enhance their brilliance and visual impact.
In my view, the knots and scars in Gis do not signify imperfections; instead, they tell a story of authenticity. These natural elements reveal the true character of the material, contributing to the unique beauty of Gis. Embracing these features allows the wood's inherent narrative to shine, adding depth and personality to the design.
Showcasing "authenticity," "material," and "skill" is central to Gis's beauty. Just as the massive stone sculptures of ancient Greece captivate us, Gis, through its form and meaning, also highlights human craftsmanship. This approach not only honors traditional techniques but also delivers a surprising and enchanting result.
In ancient Iranian literature, a lover's hair often plays a pivotal role in describing beauty and the intensity of affection. This profound cultural connection is deeply embedded in my subconscious. Inspired by my daughter Hana, I designed Gis. When she was three, her mother would tie her wavy hair, and I was mesmerized by the delicate, flowing beauty—a vision that translated into the chair's elegant form.
Gis was unveiled as part of the "Konj-e Hes" collection, where "Konj-e Hes" in Farsi denotes a private, cozy space. This chair, along with other pieces in the collection, was designed to impact its environment, fostering a sense of familiarity and security. These unique aesthetic qualities challenge traditional furniture design while maintaining functionality.
Gis stands at the intersection of art and design. Its meaningful and narrative qualities are so pronounced that one might argue its primary function is to be "viewed" and "discussed." By merging sculptural aesthetics with functional design, Gis redefines what a piece of furniture can be.
As I mentioned earlier, I addressed ergonomic considerations on the upper surface, where the body makes direct contact. However, to achieve aesthetic and meaningful emphasis, my attention was directed towards the lower curves and the form of the legs. This dual focus ensured that Gis remained comfortable while embodying its sculptural essence.
With Gis, I aimed to immortalize a chair form enriched with meaningful characteristics. My goal was to introduce a new representation of functionality. Gis could inspire future design trends by establishing a balance between practical functionality and profound meaning.
Gis continues to inspire me. I strive to maintain the connection between functionality and meaning in all my works. After creating Gis, the significance of traditional craftsmanship became even more inspiring. I believe that the authenticity and reality inherent in traditional production methods forge a deeper bond between humans and objects, transforming ordinary items into cherished, memorable, inspiring, and enduring pieces.