Milan 2014: the Salone Internazionale del Mobile fair opens in Milan today, where Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are showing a range of metal and carved wood chairs for Italian brand Mattiazzi.
Sculpted ash sections have been shaped using both hand carving and a numerically controlled milling machine.
The Bouroullec brothers combined these methods to create task seating that references ancient wood-carved furniture.
"Uncino is an almost primitive wooden chair collection," said the French design duo. "The chairs are composed by two or three pieces of numerically sculpted wood, which are held in place by simple metal rods."
Two variations of backrests – one squarish and one more rectangular – support the sitter. The chairs balance on spindly bent-steel rods, which also form the arms and hold up the wooden backrest.
Where they meet the wood, the rods are absorbed into gentle bumps in the surface. "The metal rods set the carved wooden pieces in an almost organic overlapping," the designers said.
Uncino collection includes natural wood or stained black finish options, and three and four-legged versions are available.
The chairs will be on show at the Mattiazzi stand at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Hall 20 Stand E25, in Milan until 13 April.
Photographs are by Gerhardt Kellermann.