The concept for the Big Wooden Bell Chair originated from a conversation with a friend.
“We were discussing my relationship to fabric and wood, and how my practice was evolving to become more sculptural,” says designer Sam Klemick. “During our conversation, I realized that crafting a chair with wooden upholstery was a really intriguing idea. The wooden upholstery itself is sculpted to appear worn, as though someone has sat in it. It’s a nod to this notion of what people leave behind.”
The chair, constructed entirely from reclaimed construction lumber, holds unique imperfections like nail holes—mindfully repaired with wooden patches and gold resin.
“These subtle details, easily overlooked, are what I cherish most,” she says. “The wood used in this piece had a previous life as part of a building’s structure; it’s not simply new lumber sourced from a lumber yard.”
According to Sam, the shape and proportions of the chair are modeled after a chair she already makes with fabric upholstery, The Big Bell Chair.
“We actually 3D scanned one to create the base for the piece,” she says. “This was one of the most challenging pieces I’ve ever created due to its scale and the level of intricate detail involved. The amount of hand sculpting and sanding required was extensive. Additionally, the fact that it is designed to resemble a chair with fabric upholstery was tricky. Achieving the trompe l’oeil effect and deceiving the eye required a great deal of patience and Band-Aids.”
When creating the chair, Sam says the initial steps of the process are outlined from the start. She has a clear vision for the chair’s transformation, with guides to assist her carving. As she delves into the details, though, the wood takes on a life of its own.
“It forces me to adapt,” she says. “It feels like a process where there are no mistakes, and no single perfect outcome exists. Carving the tie on the back legs of the chair and adding in the shirring of the upholstery at the arms are really dictated by the material.”
A version of this article originally appeared in “Nice Chairs” in Sixtysix Issue 14.
