Vitra Miniatures T. Vac Chair
The Tom Vac Chair was first realized as one element in a sculpture consisting of 70 stacking chairs named Totem. Commissioned by the magazine Domus, it was set up in the centre of Milan during the Salone del Mobile in 1997. The seat shell with the characteristic wave profile is based on earlier versions Ron Arad sketched for the dining room of a house in Tel Aviv. The first small series for Totem was created in just four months. Though it is a complicated metal to manufacture, vacuum-formed aluminum proved to be a suitable material. In collaboration with furniture maker Vitra, for whom he had already produced the Well Tempered Chair back in 1986, Ron Arad developed, within a very short time, a version of the Tom Vac Chair suitable for mass production. Seen within the context of Arad's complete work, which is largely characterized by "one offs", the chair is something of an innovation by virtue of its industrial and by extension inexpensive production. While the design of the Tom Vac Chair only deviates minimally from the first plan, the flexible seat shell of polypropylene offers a high degree of comfort.
MEASUREMENTS:
- Height: 13 cm / 5.1 inch
- Width: 10.4 cm / 4.1 inch
- Depth: 9.8 cm / 3.9 inch
MATERIALS:
- Plastic, chromed steel
HELPFUL NOTES:
- Each miniature is packaged in a wooden box, accompanied by an informational booklet
- Each of the delicate objects are made by hand; on average, each miniature requires five hours of careful manual work. Ongoing quality control ensures that every miniature corresponds to its larger original in terms of finishing, details and materials
Ron Arad
Israel, 1951
Arad was born in Tel Aviv. He attended the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem between 1971–73 and the Architectural Association in London from 1974–79. In 1989, with Caroline Thorman, he founded Arad Associates, an architecture and design firm, in London. His brother is the violist and educator Atar Arad.
Arad's career as a designer began with the Rover chair. He was Head of Design Products Department at the Royal College of Art from 1997 to 2009. Arad designed in 1994 the Bookworm bookcase, which was still produced in 2011 by the Italian company Kartell.
Arad's work has been described as "scary", considering its "macho concrete and cut metal; tense sheets of tempered steel and guillotine edges".
In 2005, Arad designed chandeliers for the Swarovski crystal company which if one has the number, can display text messages that are sent to it by incorporating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operated by SMS text messages. He also has had tables that climb walls instead of being centered in the room. Arad's works are often worked into distinctive biomorphic shapes and are created from his medium of choice, steel. He made plans to expand his studio in 2008.
Vitra is a Swiss company dedicated to improving the quality of homes, offices, and interior public spaces through the compelling power of design. Their chairs, tables, and accessories, including clocks, toolboxes, and cushions, are developed with an intensive, modern design process. Fusing engineering excellence with the creative genius of leading-edge international designers, Vitra enhances the aesthetic and emotional aspects of every space they grace.
All Vitra products are functional, inspiring, and durable. Founded in 1950, the family-owned Vitra line is designed and created by internationally recognized contemporary designers such as Verner Panton, Isamu Noguchi, Eero Saarinen, and Jasper Morrison. “We make products that avoid the superfluous and last for a very long time,” says Vitra chairman Rolf Fehlbaum.
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