Every year, American modern furniture store Design Within Reach launches the DWR Champagne Chair Contest™. This is a competition to design a miniature chair using only the foil, label, cage and cork of no more than two champagne bottles.
This year’s winners were announced in February and first place went to the Crescent Chair (above) by Bruce Hirschman. A fountain pen maker by trade, he used a jeweller’s saw, X-Acto knife, drill press, grinding burrs and belt sander to create a beautiful miniature sculptural piece. The judges commended Hirschman on his high level of craftsmanship, as well as the chair’s simplicity and shape. Judge and DWR founder Rob Forbes said, “I’ve never seen a chair like this. It’s so friendly, like a koala bear.”
Have any of these little upcycled champagne corks provided the inspiration for a new iconic design classic? Watch this space… In the meantime, here are a few more of our favourite competition entries.
Second prize went to Zach Martin for the Bubbly Chair
Third prize went to the Piper Beach Chair by Jeffrey Burke Whitten who was praised for his geometry, wit and use of graphics.
Antique French Chair
Third place in 2014 Chair#2014 James E McCay
Chaise by Emily Martin
Wine Chair
Images via DWR
