Parachute Cord Chair
Designed by Alexis Andreef & Jacques Guillon / Photography by Yale Joel, 1953
“The comfort of the chair comes from the fact that it gives to accomodate the sitter.”
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Strung like a racket and made like a ski it holds 450 times its weight.
Chairs lead multiple lives in U.S. homes. They are carted from dining table to television set to terrace. One problem, therefore, is to find chairs that are sturdy yet light enough to move around easily. A new solution is the chair (below) designed by a Montreal sports goods manufacturer, Alexis Andreef, and a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, Jacques Guillon. Pooling their knowledge of skis, tennis rackets and parachutes, they have devised a chair with the flexible, laminated wood frame of a ski, a seat and back of nylon parachute cord strung tight like a tennis racket. Weighing only seven pounds, the chair supported 3,370 pounds in a weight test, bent but did not break. In elm, walnut or a black plastic, it costs under $35.
“Modern parachute cord chair.”
“Designer Alexis Andreef balancing on a ski between chairs.”
“Light weight of the parachute cord chair is demonstrated by a slender model who swings it over her head and balances it in the air on her finger tips.”
“Designer Alexis Andreef showing how racket and chair are strung.”
[ All images via LIFE photo archives / ©LIFE ]
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
So cool, chair design is the best. Thanks for posting.