Woodmark Eeni Chair by Matthew Sheargold
The Woodmark name is synonymous with exceptional Danish design, yet their story does not begin with furniture designed and made in Denmark as you would expect.
Trained as an upholsterer, Arne Norgaard Christiansen was a young Dane who came to Australia in 1968 at the age of 19. Whilst not officially qualified in furniture design, his experience as an upholsterer, a carpet-layer and in curtain-making had exposed him to much of the industry, which, despite his young age, piqued his interest and appreciation for the fine qualities of Danish design.
After settling in Australia, Christiansen founded Woodmark in 1986. The business initially imported upholstered furniture, however he soon realised that employing his own experience and skills he could himself produce even higher quality Danish designs. It was this bold move into manufacturing, and the superb quality of Christiansen’s designs and manufacturing, that catapulted the Woodmark name to the top tier of the Australian furniture industry. Becoming one of the first companies to manufacture Danish-designed furniture under license in Australia, their reputation for unique and long-lasting furniture earned them commissions to produce furniture for the likes of Westpac Bank, the New Parliament of Australia and the Sydney Opera House.
Working with different designers has been paramount to the Woodmark ethos. Over the decades Christiansen has collaborated with names like Erik Jorgensen, Hansen & Sorensen and Fritz Hansen; these unions producing some of the most well-known and superbly designed pieces of our time. One such collaboration with Australian designer Charles Wilson, created design history by producing the iconic “swivel chair”, the original of which now sits in the permanent collection of Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.
Another such collaboration is with our very own Canberran and Canberra Institute of Technology graduate, Matthew Sheargold. Sheargold is a true artist, whose skills range from industrial design through to product and interior design. His exceptional work has seen him join force with companies like Red Bull to create an office fit-out that has been acknowledged as one of the top 25 inspirational offices. Sheargold’s work is playful in nature; born of his lively imagination, coupled with his deep knowledge of his customer, and brought to fruition through his breadth of experience across multiple disciplines.
Sheargold’s considered but light-hearted creativity is reflected in his collaboration with Woodmark in the Eeni, Meeni, Myni, Mo collection. This family of chairs and tables have been designed for flexibility and versatility. Whilst the seat design is a consistent thread throughout the collection, the pieces are matched with different bases, creating different personalities for each.
We are lucky to have the Eeni chair currently available. Set on a solid 4-leg stainless steel star base, the seat swivels for maximum range of movement. The unique seat design is complemented by the cushioned back, arms and seat, and in true Woodmark style is manufactured using only the highest quality materials. Designed for comfort and built to last, we have this chair available in a striped fabric of a neutral orange/yellow hue, its earthy tones lending itself to many different environments.
The Eeni chair exudes simple yet enduring style, don’t miss your opportunity to own one of the most popular pieces amongst the Woodmark collections, designed by one of our very own.
