Tripolina
The 'Tripolina' is a folding chair made out of wood with metal swivel joints and animal hide. It was invented by Joseph B. Fenby and patented in the United States in 1881.[1]
The Tripolina chair was made from prior to WWII by the firm of Viganò in Tripoli, Libya, for the expatriate Italian market as a camping chair of great stability in the sand and made from local wood and camel or cow hide. The Italian firm of Viganò clearly stamped their products on the rear of the hides with their large "Paolo Viganò Tripoli" oval seal. The hide is nowadays often replaced by canvas or other materials.
Further inspirations
The chair has inspired other folding chairs, the famous BKF Chair[2] for instance, also known as Butterfly chair. It uses curved metal instead of wood for the structure and the leather is made up of four separate pieces.
Manufacturers
Tripolina chairs are still produced to this day. While the chair was originally primarily produced in Italy, because of its similarities to the BKF Chair many Argentine furniture designers also make the Tripolina using their famous saddle leather. The most noted producer in recent decades being Big BKF Buenos Aires, which crafts their chairs by hand in a small town in the Argentine Pampas.
References
- ↑ "J. B. FENBY, FOLDING CHAIR". United States Patent and Trademark Office. July 12, 1881. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
- ↑ Vidal, M. (1998). LA CADIRA" BKF"" MODELO AUSTRAL" DE BONET, KURCHAN I FERRARI-HARDOY. Maestros, amigos, alcahuetes: los modos de educación musical doméstica en el XVII español, 425.