A chair formed from long, curved, olive ash wood, with an S-shaped back that grows from and merges into an elliptical form with two, tapering legs descending from the left and right edges. Four green suede-upholseted tubular segments form the basis of the seat.

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See more objects with the tag wood, organic line, contemporary, suede, Irish.

Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object.
2014	Work on this object began.
2015	We acquired this object.
2017	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Enignum Free Form Chair

This is a chair. It was designed by Joseph Walsh Studio. It is dated 2014 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is olive ash wood stripped into thin layers, then manipulated and reconstructed, suede upholstery. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Bentwood furniture originated in the 18th century and was perfected in the 19th, but today Joseph Walsh has updated the technique for the new millenium. This chair belongs to his Enignum series, derived from the Latin words enigma ("mystery") and lignum ("wood"). The sinuous pieces are inspired by the landscape of Walsh's native Irland, informed by the material's innate qualities, and executed using both digital rendering and handicraft techniques.

It is credited Gift of Joseph Walsh.

Armchair (USA)
bent wood, caning.
1972-17-1

Swivel Chair (USA)
enameled steel, wood, wool upholstery.
Gift of Mel Byars.
1991-59-1

A pear wood and leather art nouveau high backed side chair from the dining room of the Hotel Guimard. This chair is designed with a pear wood high curved backpanel that rounds off at its ends with irregular open shaped “handles” that maintain an abstracted motif that reference the movements and processes of nature. The handles are embellshed with tiny arabesque carvings. Below the wooden panel is a an attenuated pear like shaped designed leather upholstered back which is outlined in brass beading in oval and rounded shapes. On either side are slightly open slats that attach to the back of the seat. The seat is leather and also surrounded with brass beading at the edging. There is a small curved wooden apron and the legs are splay out and end with feet that are adorned with vegetal designs. The seat is of a mustard brown color and it shows much wear. This chair was part of a room that was designed in a most comprehensive expression of art nouveau.

Side Chair, from the Dining Room of the Hôtel Guimard, Paris, France Chair
pearwood, leather, brass.
Gift of Mme. Hector Guimard.
1948-114-1

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Poster, Tropon est l'aliment le plus concentré (Tropon, the most concentrated food supplement)

Poster, Tropon est l'aliment le plus concentré (Tropon, the most...
lithograph on wove paper, lined.
Museum purchase through gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie III, Marilyn....
2007-2-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 70 × 125 × 106.5 cm (27 9/16 × 49 3/16 × 41 15/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Enignum Free Form Chair; Designed by Joseph Walsh Studio; olive ash wood stripped into thin layers, then manipulated and reconstructed, suede upholstery; H x W x D: 70 × 125 × 106.5 cm (27 9/16 × 49 3/16 × 41 15/16 in.); Gift of Joseph Walsh; 2015-39-1

We have 1 video that features Enignum Free Form Chair.

Joseph Walsh: Enignum Chair Process

Irish designer Joseph Walsh's studio, where the Enignum Chair is made.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making | Breaking: New Arrivals.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/75G12/
Accession Number 2015-39-1
Object ID 68813985