Share-a-Chair #15: Erin's lounge-y work chair done

Earlier this week, I finished this chair for my amazing client Erin. It's not everyday that someone trusts you when you say you want to make a substantial structural element of their chair  using paper. That said, let's get the obvious questions out of the way first:

Q: Can you sit on it?
A: Yes.

Q: But won't it break or tear or explode?
A: No.

Q: How come?
A: Because the paper is pretty thick and heavy (120 lb cold press water color), folded over itself a couple times to form strips and then woven together. The woven design redistributes weight across several points in the weave as opposed to just one area.

Q: How did you color the paper?
A: Several cartons of Rit Dye and a large sink. Rit dye is awesome, by the way. It's an inexpensive, versatile product that I'll definitely use again.

Q: What would happen if you put this chair near a fireplace?
A: That would not be a good idea.

In all seriousness, this is a mostly uncomplicated design that combines a woven seat with a sturdy walnut frame. Sure, the paper part is interesting, and some may consider it innovative, but I've done that before.

For me, the exciting part was working with bendable plywood, otherwise known as "bender board" or "wacky wood". To create the sweeping, curved stretcher, I stacked and glued three layers of the plywood and veneered both sides with walnut. The woven paper strips stretch over and around the form where they attach to the back side with grommets and stainless steel screws.

I have another chair in the works now, but it will have to wait until I'm a little further along on a few tables. I guess that means the chair has been tabled.