The Daumiller chair sounds like a manifesto in honor of the beauty of pine, its knots, its color. A classic from the 70s, it is back today in a context of environmental concerns which magnifies its qualities. Because Daumiller was an ecologist before his time, concerned about sustainable constructions close to nature.
The Daumiller chair reissued by Gubi is made of certified solid pine, like the original pieces produced by the Hirtshals sawmill in 1977. Solid in its construction, simple in its form and sculptural in its expression, it expresses a frank and direct materiality. The body-contoured seat and back add to the bold, retro expressiveness of this design classic.
Inspired by the traditional Danish milking stool, as well as Hans J. Wegner's China Chair, Daumiller wanted to create a sturdy chair, capable of withstanding children's games and adult parties. The choice of pine, a fast-growing tree that renews itself quickly, demonstrates a commitment to sustainability that was ahead of its time.
Another advantage of pine: although the chair has a massive and heavy appearance, it is relatively light. This is all the more interesting as the height of the seat has been increased to take into account the increase in the average height of the population.
Versatile and stylish, the Daumiller chair is at home in a private or public environment, in a group or alone, in a kitchen or dining room.
The generous seat, armrests and three-part backrest are carefully milled to achieve the necessary curvature, then finished by hand.
Dimensions 44,7 x 46 x H47,7 – Seat height 45,2 cm Weight 7,5 kg
Material pine
Daumiller chair – Golden Pine
Daumiller chair – Brown/Black pine
Rainer Daumiller
Daumiller has always been drawn to durability and simplicity, both in his life and in his work. The robust, sculptural forms of his creations testify to a long-standing love of the natural world and an intuitive understanding of materials - the ability to take what's there, respond to its inherent properties and create something special, whether he's foraging for food or designing a piece of furniture.
Daumiller started designing furniture when he was in elementary school. With a friend, he designed a desk and a cabinet, then had them made by a nearby carpenter's shop, shaping the sculptural handles himself. On graduating from high school, an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker seemed the logical next step for a man so drawn to manual labor.
The philosophy of Austrian philosopher, social reformer and architect Rudolf Steiner, and weekly visits from a teacher at the Waldorf School in Stuttgart, provide additional learning. He taught them to form objects from seemingly random pieces of wood, based on what each specific piece suggested to them. This approach shaped Daumiller's instinct to listen to materials and let their natural characteristics shape the design. Of all the furniture created by German-born designer Rainer Daumiller, the Daumiller pine armchair is perhaps the one that best expresses his values and approach as a designer. Solid in construction, simple in form and sculptural in expression, its direct materiality and robust composition pay homage to Daumiller's lifelong affinity with nature. Moreover, the designer's choice of pine testifies to a commitment to sustainability that was ahead of its time.
