The Catalan variation of the of the post-and-rung chair has been traced back to the late 19th century and is still made today. This native of Catalonia speaks to me; it whispers, “sit back and relax.”
As with its straight-backed relatives, these chairs were made with local woods and reed-woven seats. The chair back is inclined and typically has four slats. There are two rungs at the front and sides and one at the back. Two additional legs at the back provide the support for the inclined angle of the chair. The comfort of this vernacular chair is the inclined seat and the high and wide back.
Details include decorative turnings on the front post, especially at the base. Each chair that I’ve found has, for lack of a better term, a “beanie cap” turning at the top of the back post.
Salvador Dalí, native of Catalonia, owned armed versions of the six-legged chair at his home in Portlligat, Spain.
Rodríguez Aria (1902-1987) was a founding member of GATCPAC, a group of architects and technicians concerned with improving urban development and the quality of life in Barcelona. He was on the Republican side in the Civil War and eventually left Spain and exiled to Chile. He had charge of the interior design of Café Miraflores in Santiago de Chile, a gathering place for exiled Spanish intellectuals. His design for the café‘s chairs were a call back to the Catalan vernacular chair.
Two editions of Rodríguez Arias’ chair.
This reimagining of the traditional Catalan six-legged chair is in line with the work done by Charlotte Perriand in the mid-1930s. After working with steel, she moved to the wooden vernacular furniture of her grandparent’s Savoie home as inspiration for her designs. I always think of these swings in design as a push and pull. There is a push to use new and modern materials, but the pull of the older design is always in the back of the mind.
Both the vernacular version and the Rodríguez Arias version of this chair are still made and, as one would expect, they are expensive.
I was able to get the measurements for four chairs dating from the 1920s to the 1950s (one of which is not pictured):
Height range: 88-100 cm (34.6-39.4 in.)
Width range: 48-50 cm (18.9-19.7 in.)
Depth range: 74-80 cm (29.1-31.5 in.)
Now, imagine sitting back in one of these Catalan chairs, preferably along the coast of Catalonia. The heat of the day has passed and as you sip from una copa de vi negre o una cervesa a light breeze surrounds you with the perfume of honeysuckle and orange.
–Suzanne Ellison
Suzanne, I love your work. Your posts are as evocative as they are well-researched. Just wanted to say thanks.
Thank you! That’s very kind of you.
I believe the daughter of Pierre Argillet is Christine, not Charlotte.
Fixed. Thanks.
That’s a fantastic article, thank you. It’s difficult to find published material on Catalan vernacular furniture, so it’s amazing that you added the drawings too.
Kudos for getting the name of the beverages right in Catalan. Small correction: it’s “copa de vi negre”, not “copa de vi negra” (“negre” refers to the wine, not the cup).
I think there is more information about Catalan vernacular furniture, it just has to be found and translated. Thanks for catching my spelling error, because I really hate making mistakes concerning red wine.
Six legs requires an absolutely flat floor………. or slightly flexible joints.
Especially the versions with arms look to me like a lightweight Morris with extra bracing. I know Chris keeps pushing lower chairs but I would find that one very difficult to get out of (likewise Adirondacks). If the knees are significantly higher than the rear I have problems, muscles don’t work quite like they used to. But if you like the seat arrangement of a Morris or Adirondack but don’t want something so heavy looks like the Catalan could be your cup up tea.
Just enough in your article to inspire me to re-draw, re-imagine and construct a pair of chair. So thanks.
Behold a fiery coloured chair and it was granted to take peace away from the earth.
Or just the chair makers community.