The only two samples of the Tjøme chair are hand made by master boatbuilders based in Risør, south of Norway. They have previously built and restored wooden boats such as the classic 10 meter “If” by Christian Jensen. The wood used for the Tjøme chair has been dried slowly to ensure consistent movement of the material as it ages and responds to different climates. 3d veneer is used for the seat while the legs are turned and everything is assembled and finished by hand.
There is always a lot of iterations when making a chair, and it always comes back to understanding the product fully. The 1:1 mock-up is perhaps the best tool in this regard. Cheap, fast and instantly revealing it allows you to get a deeper understanding of the object. I always leave the models in my studio so I can familiarise myself with them over time.
The image above is from the workshop where I am testing the proportions of the frame, before the laminated seat was added.
