Classic Hardwood

Whilst the title of my blog is Classic Hardwood, it’s not just wood furniture I’m interested in. It has to be said that, on the whole, furniture today is poorly designed and built, most of it being pretty much as disposable as the ubiquitous Bic ballpoint pen (and just as bad for the environment!). That is why I almost always go for antiques, except when I find high quality furniture in a furniture sale!

That said, there are some modern designs and designers that cannot be ignored. One of which is Mario Bellini. Mario Bellini is well known for his architecture, urban planning and sculptures, but what is less well known is that he also indulged in other forms of popular design. From shelving to sofas and computers to cassette decks, he’s turned his hand to most things.

My personal favourite is the CAB412/413 universal side chair. Designed in 1977, it won the 1978 Popular Award of the Resources Council, Inc.

The reason I like it so much is that it echoes nature in its simplicity, and it functions perfectly as a result. Consisting of a load-bearing skeleton with its leather skin stretched over it to elastically accommodate the human body, the similarity to an animal is obvious.

What makes it all the more impressive is that the leather is simply zipped over the fame, meaning that should you want a change of colour, or if you damage it, the easily transportable leather can be swapped with very little hassle. So there you go, I do like contemporary and modern furniture as well as my beloved antiques!