Canadian designer Patty Johnson has designed Tswana, a folding chair shown last week at the Cïbone store in Tokyo as part of Design Tide Tokyo.

The chair is based upon those traditionally used by village elders in Botswana and was designed for Botswanan manufacturer Mabeo Furniture.

The following is from Mabeo Furniture:

--

Mabeo Furniture is a Botswana-based company committed to the production of high quality contemporary furniture.

Mabeo seeks to show that a group of local people from Botswana, Africa can, through their own skills, efforts and meaningful collaborations, create opportunities for themselves and for their communities, become meaningful participants in the global economy,and determine their own destiny.

Tswana (Setswana), is the National language of Botswana and a name that reflects the importance of the original antique chair the design is based upon as something the village elders have used during traditional court sessions, or to sit and chat with friends and neighbours. Above: Traditional Botswanan folding chair.

Patty Johnson, inspired by this commonly seen style of chair, has made a new version for Mabeo Furniture.

Patty Johnson

Patty Johnson is a Canadian designer who has been cited for synthesizing craft and mass production in her work.

Her consultancy work represents diverse international interests and includes clients such as Totem Gallery, Keilhauer, Speke Klein, Nienkamper, Sephora, the Inter-American International Development Bank, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Tswana chair

Material: White Oak
w450×d600×h760×sh400
39,900yen