ross lovegrove celebrates 125 years of bernhardt design with anne chair
image courtesy of lovegrove studio

 

 

 

 

to celebrate its 125th anniversary, bernhardt design commissioned ross lovegrove to conceive a chair that encompassed its commitment to quality and the artistry of furniture making. named after the company’s founder anne harper bernhardt, ‘anne’ draws its formal influences from american courthouse seats, in which lovegrove has translated the essence of an object that has quite a historical presence, into a piece that is contemporary; while still reflecting his own personal design vocabulary.

ross lovegrove bernhardt design anne designboom
3/4 top view
image courtesy of lovegrove studio

 

 

 

‘products can often feel edgy, as if they are waiting for use – never really becoming part of us. in the case of chairs, there must be some reference for the eye to read comfort and tactility, as well as to enjoy the reshaping that comes from ownership. for this reason I wanted to use walnut, because it has so much character and depth. It is a warm material, and you can almost feel the age of the tree in its personality,’ says ross lovegrove.

 

 

ross lovegrove bernhardt design anne designboom
top view of the seat
image courtesy of lovegrove studio

 

 

 

the british creative who is known for employing high-end technology in the development of his furniture concepts, utilized old-world craftsmanship in combination with master carvers and seven axis CNC machines to realize ‘anne’, his first wood chair, manufactured from solid american walnut. this decision came from his desire to render something that had character and depth, expressing a sense of comfort and tactility in both visually and physically.

ross lovegrove bernhardt design anne designboom
ross lovegrove in his studio with a study model of ‘anne’ (at left)
photo by scott rudd

 

 

 

 

‘I wanted the seat to be very fluid, almost as if it were poured into the frame, as opposed to being a distinctly separate element. this casual drawing effect speaks to prior use and provides a visual cue regarding comfort. the final result is a chair that is rather timeless, one where it is difficult to assign a time and date,‘  lovegrove continues.

 

the upholstered leather seat was drafted with intentions similar to people buying jeans, trying to emulate the look and feel of being broken-in before being worn.

ross lovegrove bernhardt design anne designboom
ross lovegrove with ‘anne’
photo by scott rudd

 

 

‘anne’ was presented by bernhardt design at the 2014 ICFF in new york.