The chair and its anatomy
Folding, rocking, swiveling, upright, stackable, rocking, captain's chair: the chair has many personalities and variations, making it a complex piece of furniture. It is also the piece of furniture that most closely resembles human morphology.
During the long process of creating and designing a chair, the designer must take into account a multitude of parameters: ergonomics, comfort, mobility, sturdiness, while paying particular attention to style and design. After all, in addition to all these characteristics, the chair is undoubtedly the most stylizable piece of furniture.
But design shouldn't take precedence over everything else. Do you remember the movie "La Ch'tite famille"? Valentin, a famous designer, creates a three-legged chair with an interesting design, but it literally breaks its occupant's back.
This pretty much sums up the complexity the furniture designer has to deal with if he wants to create an eye-catching piece; comfort and ergonomics must take precedence over style.
The base
The base generally consists of 4 legs to provide greater stability on the floor. Three-legged chairs are used for round tables, with the single front leg used to bring the chairs closer together.
The back legs may be an extension of the backrest, just as the front legs may be the extension used to attach the armrests.
In the workshop, if the design of a leg is a pronounced curve, the chairmaker must ensure that the wood grain is not interrupted by the amplitude of the curve. A weakness in the continuity of the wood grain could cause the leg to break.
The Spacer
Shaped like an "H" or "X," the spacer solidifies the base of the front and back legs. This element, which can be stylized, is sometimes found under the seat to hold it in place.
The backrest
Depending on the design of the chair, the backrest can be "low back", "medium back" or "high back". Its slope depends on the function of the chair. A kitchen chair will have a straight or very slightly sloping back, while an "easy chair" will have a steeper slope, ideal for reading or resting. The backrest is generally ergonomic and determines the overall comfort of the chair.
The seat
Whether cane, upholstered or wooden, the seat is an important ergonomic element. Like the backrest, its inclination depends on the type of chair being designed, generally ranging from 1° to 5°. The same goes for the height: a lounge chair will be closer to the floor than a straight chair. The chairmaker who designs a wooden chair has to shape complex templates and tends to use hand tools such as the spokeshave.
Armrests
The Captain's Chair features a pair of armrests to enhance the comfort of the occupant. Armrests also reinforce the chair's structure by anchoring the back and front of the chair. Most industrially designed chairs are available with or without armrests.
