Chesnut Armchair
HISTORY
Only a select few objects and pieces of furniture possess an aura capable of transcending time. This chestnut armchair is one of them, and yet it came perilously close to disappearing. This iconic chair, beloved by Le Corbusier, teetered on the brink of extinction until La Maison de Commerce breathed new life into it. Here is the story.
In the shade of blooming linden trees.
Whether in the garden beneath the lime tree where family meals come to a close, in a seaside bedroom, or in our grandparents’ winter garden, this armchair is an integral part of the furnishings, as the popular saying goes. Sold since the late 19th century, it was mass-produced in the mid-20th century, primarily in about twenty family-run workshops in Haute-Vienne. Prized for the simplicity of its lines, its durability, and the freedom of its forms, it gained widespread popularity for its remarkable lightness and the mythical powers attributed to it in repelling insects. These qualities made it a staple in French country homes.
However, the number of craftsmen producing this armchair dwindled, and the last remaining ones closed their workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic without finding any successors. The expertise of the artisans who work with chestnut wood in Limousin (where the chestnut tree is a symbol) was in jeopardy. Therefore, we made every effort to revive production by connecting craftsmen and thus ensure the continued manufacture of this armchair, an integral part of French heritage.
This expertise is in danger of being lost, as chestnut trees grow in small groves, and the chestnut harvest is a seasonal, artisanal process for gathering the strips and poles, which must then be placed in ovens to be softened—a necessary step to easily remove the bark and shape them. The slats of the seats, known as splints, are produced by a specific, ancient machine, of which only a few remain in operation. Our efforts have helped preserve and pass on this expertise. We take pride in contributing to the revival of this armchair—an icon that defies the passage of time and changing fashions, embodying an enduring legacy.
