Description

This bamboo chair is admired for its simple and beautiful curves, characteristic of Japanese design. Designed by Ubunji Kidokoro of the Mitsukoshi Furniture Design Office, it utilizes the elasticity of bamboo in a cantilever structure and was exhibited at a Mitsukoshi interior design exhibition at the time.
Following Mart Stam’s development of the cantilever structure, various architects and designers around the world created cantilever chairs—first in steel pipe (1926), and later in laminated bentwood by Alvar Aalto (1929). In Japan as well, a cantilever chair making use of bamboo’s flexibility was developed.
This piece uses madake bamboo from western Japan, naturally dried and oil-treated. Eight thin strips of bamboo are laminated in the frame. The design is thought to have been influenced by Aalto’s 1932 “Model 31.” Later, Charlotte Perriand also presented similar chairs utilizing bamboo.The chair has been reissued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mitsukoshi’s processing department.