See more objects with the tag wood, organic line, contemporary, suede, Irish.

Object Timeline

-0001

2014

  • Work on this object began.

2015

  • We acquired this object.

2017

2025

  • You found it!

Enignum Free Form Chair

This is a chair. It was designed by Joseph Walsh Studio. It is dated 2014 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is olive ash wood stripped into thin layers, then manipulated and reconstructed, suede upholstery. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Bentwood furniture originated in the 18th century and was perfected in the 19th, but today Joseph Walsh has updated the technique for the new millenium. This chair belongs to his Enignum series, derived from the Latin words enigma ("mystery") and lignum ("wood"). The sinuous pieces are inspired by the landscape of Walsh's native Irland, informed by the material's innate qualities, and executed using both digital rendering and handicraft techniques.

It is credited Gift of Joseph Walsh.

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 70 × 125 × 106.5 cm (27 9/16 × 49 3/16 × 41 15/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Enignum Free Form Chair; Designed by Joseph Walsh Studio; olive ash wood stripped into thin layers, then manipulated and reconstructed, suede upholstery; H x W x D: 70 × 125 × 106.5 cm (27 9/16 × 49 3/16 × 41 15/16 in.); Gift of Joseph Walsh; 2015-39-1

We have 1 video that features Enignum Free Form Chair.

Joseph Walsh: Enignum Chair Process

Irish designer Joseph Walsh's studio, where the Enignum Chair is made.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making | Breaking: New Arrivals.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/68813985/ |title=Enignum Free Form Chair |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>