Amazing and rare lounge chair designed and produced in Costa Rica, 1970s, a truly singular piece that stands apart from anything produced in the mainstream design centres of its era. Costa Rica has a long and proud tradition of skilled woodworking, rooted in the extraordinary hardwoods native to the region, very similar to the Brazilian style, and this chair is a compelling testament to that heritage. Constructed entirely from solid tropical hardwood, the craftsmanship on display is exceptional, from the precise dovetail joinery of the frame to the beautifully turned spherical details at each corner where the leather sling meets the wood. These bold, bulbous forms give the chair an almost totemic presence, somewhere between furniture and sculpture.

The seat itself is a generously proportioned sling of channeled black leather, sweeping in a long, sensuous curve between the high back and the low front, inviting the body to sink into its natural arc. A nice detail are the round shapes used at the front and the back where the leather is attached to. The adjustable head rest with a counter balance wooden stick on a rope, is a unique way of aesthetically defining its function. The overall silhouette is dramatic and confident, with a strong graphic quality that photographs as beautifully as it sits in a room.

A label affixed to the underside of the frame reads Muebles Soto S.A., Tibas, San José, Costa Rica, a well-regarded furniture house that both produced and retailed high-quality pieces in the region. Whether this design originated in-house or was commissioned from an independent maker remains open, but the sophistication of its execution points clearly to a designer of considerable talent and vision.

1970s
Hardwood, leather

Height: 77/37 cm
Width: 62 cm
Depth: 108 cm