Soft Baroque

Tufnol Shaker2019

Tufnol Shaker
Tufnol Shaker chair, 2019. Phenolic composite. Photo by DSL Studio.
Tufnol Shaker
Tufnol Shaker chair, 2019. Phenolic composite.
Tufnol Shaker
Tufnol Shaker chair, 2019. Phenolic composite. Photo by Felix Burrichter.
Tufnol Shaker
Tufnol Shaker chair, 2019. Phenolic composite.




Tufnol is an industrial laminate made from layers of linen bonded with resin. It is used as a non-conductive and corrosion resistant replacement for metal parts such as gears and bearings. Similar to bakelite it is credited as the first completely synthetic plastic material. When carving though the layers of fabric it produces a pattern similar to wood grain, a high performing object camouflaging as a natural material. Made into a visually pared-back Shaker style, the chair is a homogeneous reference to the sometimes antithetical forces of craft, industry, style and religion.





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