I thought the fascination with all things skeletal had died a death, until I attended a preview of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on Thursday night and saw Olu Shobowale’s Coffin ‘To Die For’.
The late noughties onwards have seen a profusion of Vanitas inspired artworks. Designers have also been influenced, resulting in some curiously uncomfortable looking pieces of furniture (see below). Any idea who might buy or use these sorts of chairs?
1) The Sensory Deprivation Skull Chair by Dutch designer, Joep van Lieshout (2007):
“Making use of the minimal space needed for the body to relax this unit opens out to reveal a room in which the user can escape the sensory clutter of modern life.”
2) The Skull Chair from Vladi Rapaport’s Vanitas Collection is intended to serve ‘as a reminder of the vanity of one’s earthly life.’
3) This Skull Chair by Pool, a French design studio, is named ‘Souviens Toi Que Tu Vas Mourir’ (remember that you will die) – a memento mori, portrayed somewhat ironically, through an item of plastic furniture.
4) Other chairs spotted include this friendly faced faux stone skull creation.
5) And a rather rustic looking skeleton chair from an architectural salvage store.
6) For only $39 there’s a kiddies version from the Miniature Cellar – the Skeleton Chair with a Blue Velvet Cushion.
7) Then there are Geoffrey Bradfield’s Skull Chairs:
“As an homage to Alexander McQueen, as part of his new collection, designer Geoffrey Bradfield created a pair of chairs called Louis in Extremis for Kyle Bunting. Each French chair frame is upholstered in contrasting hot pink and ivory hides to create the image of a skull.”
8) In fashionable Mexican folk culture style comes the ‘Dios de la muertos Sugar Skull Chair.’
9) The Pirates of the Caribbean version – a skull chair with… skulls.The sign says, “evil befalls those who touch,” which is curious in view of the Nintendo DS campaign’s “touching is good.”
10) Last, but not least, there’s the bunny-skull throne…
The plastic chair (number 3) is pretty damn cool and looks like it could easily be mass-produced. They should have them in schools, to give the kids an early lesson in mortality.
The bunny skull is Donnie Darko isn’t it?
Here’s a miniature, not to mention rather rickety Day of the Dead chair: http://twitpic.com/56r6o9/full
The crow, I felt, adds to the general ambience.
One recalls the fellow mentioned in one of the Keats & Chapman bits in The Best of Myles, who slept in his coffin–“a terrible man for his bier.”
What could be better than kicking back in a chair that reminds you that you’re going to die?
I find all of these chairs ‘a bit Donnie Darko’, Brit.
I’m curious to know if that photograph was taken in your house, Jonathon? Whoever these props belong to surely indulges in weird Haitian voodoo rituals?
True, coffins are much more versatile than urns, George.
Depends, Worm… not so good if it’s an electric chair.
It was. By me, On my phone. Inspired by your post. I was given the crow last year as a present at the launch party for the big dictionary. I can’t recall whence the chair arrived but I would imagine a long-forgotten jumble sale. I don’t think Baron Samedi would feel especially at home chez nous but the photo of the one legged dwarf Italian basket weaver (captured as he worked on a chair seat as it happens), taken by my partner the jumble aficionada c. 1965, might give him pause for thought.
A chance to share one of my favorite web sites: Casket furniture.
Does anyone remember a brilliant exhibition about the Mexican Day of the Dead at the Museum of Mankind? It must have been about 20 years ago – my children were quite young, and it was one of very few museum exhibitions they actually enjoyed. There were all sorts of macabre little knickknacks for sale too…
Excellent. I quite fancy a skull-themed barbecue set.
Loved the Museum of Mankind, Nige, so sad it’s gone – perhaps Jonathon should offer to set a new one up at his place?
David, thanks for introducing the curiously classy casket furniture ‘as seen in the Playboy Mansion’. The painful, oops, mournful soundtrack was much appreciated too. x
Gaw, you’ve reminded me of a joke (told to me this evening by an 8 year old) Why didn’t the skeleton go to the barbeque? Because he hadn’t got any spare ribs.