A chair is a chair – it is no chair. Or at least not only that. Some things in our surroundings undergo a transformation: mere objects of utility become artifacts of biographical relevance. Take, for example, this armchair, which once stood desolately next to the bulky waste. And the shelf, screwed into completion in an endless procedure. Sometimes that is kitschy and beautiful, but above all, normal. Stories that wrap themselves around metal, wood, or plastic and promise meaning.
 
Yet the narrative often begins much earlier, for most of the inventory has a life of its own. It usually begins with people we do not know at all. In their minds, those constructions arise, gain form and, if craftsmanship is available, even shape. And one of these narratives begins with STEFAN SCHWANDER, previously known through his musical output as ANTONELLI or HARMONIOUS THELONIOUS. We owe him not only many respectable tracks, but also the chair that is the subject of this piece. Its name: ITALIC CHAIR. Therefore, this report is one of solemn enthusiasm – with an excellent result and the proof that unusual combinations are more than possible. For the ITALIC CHAIR can not only easily pass itself off as an aesthetic-haptic bridge between record label, artistry, and furniture making – it also wants to be understood as such.
 
This is, of course, no coincidence. For years, Schwander has been doing what is considered reprehensible in monogamous constellations, but essential in other matters: playing multiple tracks at once. Studio on the one hand, workshop on the other. Thus, the ITALIC CHAIR was created in Düsseldorf, which, after almost three years of conceptual work, left the nursery between sawdust, glue, and oil to begin its service as a tasteful seat and, by the way, may bear the title "The only label chair for miles." And despite its remarkable uniqueness, the ITALIC CHAIR represents the label excellently – classic and futuristic, simple and extravagant, minimalist and stylish, while of course being functional. A successful synthesis, encased in Finnish birch.
 
True craftsmanship that speaks a powerful but subtle language with a seemingly floating platform, bold shaping, and dark coloring. The ITALIC CHAIR is Stefan Schwander, it is ITALIC, and it is at the same time a story that calls for further writing in esteemed spaces. By the way, a little more of Schwander's inherent narrative is located under the seat as a highly delightful footnote... and it has to do with music.

Credits
Text: Carolin Weidner
Image: Schiko