‘Bone’ armchair by Joris Laarman

Curator’s Eye

We asked custodians of leading twentieth-century decorative arts collections to discuss one object they feel is particularly noteworthy. Here is a gallery of their choices.

Joris Laarman Bone armchair prototype, made of cast marble resin and ground bone china Designed 2008

“The recent acquisition of Joris Laarman’s ‘Bone’ armchair exemplifies the vibrancy of the High Museum’s growing collection of contemporary design. Born out of an intellectual association of abstract ideas, proportional relationships, and aesthetics, the concept for the chair’s design was realized by Laarman with the aid of a computer algorithm,  originally developed for the car industry, based on the ability of the human skeleton to respond to external stimuli. This marriage of theory and unexpected materials generated a sensuous form that organically rises from the ground. While bearing some resemblance to earlier stylistic movements, the ‘Bone’ armchair turns the credo of ‘form follows function’ on its head.”

Ronald T. Labaco, Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, High Museum of Art,  Atlanta