Shaping Beauty

img.0all Images © Itenia photography, Ermanno Zuodar

The concept for ‘Frantz’ began with a trip to the north-eastern city of Udine, Italy. The area was once the heart of Italian wood furniture production, with a long, stretching history of craft and passionate making. Modern times have been hard on a number of the region’s factories, forcing many to shut their doors and close shop. Manufacturer Tekhne, born in 1994, has steadily helped keep local-tradition from fading, most recently through their collaboration with Tel Aviv-based studio Producks — Yoav Avinoam and Gil Sheffi — to create the ‘Frantz’ chair. 

img.1Connection detail between backrest and the legs

The product marked the first collaboration between the company and design studio, which was presented at this year’s Salone del Mobile event. The seat is experimental, attempting to harmoniously combine elements of traditional design with bold, modern aesthetics and materials. The visual line, carried up through the legs and into the backrest, is the chair’s most prominent detail — loosely tying it to Thonet’s 19th century creations. ‘Frantz’ is manufactured in solid beech wood, with a laminated seat, and backing options of polyester mesh or natural cane. 

img.2Poly mesh backrest 

img.3‘Frantz’ is also available with traditional cane backing

img.4Prototyping 

img.5Design process

img.6Early ‘Frantz’ mockup 

img.7Prototype detail

img.8Sketches 

Via Designboom