Sometimes referred to as “peasant chairs” or “farmers chairs” because of their simple handmade construction using minimal wood. This style of chair has been handmade in the Alps region for centuries, especially rural areas where it was common to not only build your home from wood, but also the furniture to go in it.

These chairs are a fairly early example, late 19th century/early 20th century. The design was revitalised by the Brutalist design movement in the 1960s but sleeker and with a high quality finish. This pair are made without a single metal screw or nail, joined simply, but perfectly, together with hand-whittled wood pegs and joints.

It’s possible the legs are a slightly later replacement as they haven’t got as much wear as the seats and look to be oak rather than the lighter wood used for the seats which is likely to be Elm.

They had a messy coat of dark varnish over an older wood stain and varnish. We’ve gently stripped them back without taking all the patina off and just gently oiled them.

They have wear as you can see in photos but are structurally fine and the chairs are very usable. The joints may relax slightly in transit but if you gently hammer the pegs on the underneath, it tightens everything back up. There is the odd old woodworm hole, they’ve been treated as a precaution.

Delivery can be arranged.