1970`s-80`s Horsehair & Steel Stools-Mfg. Or Designer ID Help??

I picked up 4 of these horsehair & solid bent steel stools...No Tags..None are marked...Any help appreciated.

 

Horsehair?? - from the 1970's????? I find that difficult to fathom.

 

Horsehair difficult to fathom????? I find the entire "concept" of it being a "stool" difficult to fathom. I can't imagine sitting on it or setting anything on it if the top is as shown (or appears to be) in the photos.

I think there is "something" missing in its construction (framework) . . . but what?????

 

I was thinking the same about the "sitting" issue, yourturn. And then I thought that the steel frame probably extends up, over, around and down again, forming the shape under the fabric. That *might* make it strong enough for a reasonably sized person to sit on. But there should be a weight warning.

 

What is the tag on the back left, shown in pic #3

 

Clutter,That is a Sold Tag...It is some kind of animal...Maybe not horsehair...It is a stool...I weigh 170 & it supports me fine...Look at the bottom...

 

Not only "maybe not" horsehair, it's absolutely not horsehair. Horsehair is too stiff, scratchy and short to be woven. It IS used inside furniture (old furniture, that is) as a stuffing for cushions and in plaster as a stiffener that also provides strength (I've had 2 houses with horsehair plaster on the walls.)

More likely wool.

Is that zippers underneath or is the covering sewn together?

I assume the stool is tall enough that the crosspieces near the floor act as foot rests?

 

Is there a "fabric content" label or remnants of a label anywhere on the furniture? Does it perhaps have the word "laine" on it?

 

Laine would be wool, right?

 

There are No Labels!....That is a footrest...It may not be horsehair...But maybe,it is something else & worn,with leather underside,as pictured...Is anyone familiar with the designer or ma nufacturer

 

Ah. The "white" part is what you thought was horsehair - because of the "leather" that has been exposed by wear? Your earlier pictures made me think the white part was just dirty or stained fabric.

It's awfully hard to see the detail - this last picture appears not to be focused. Do you have a macro function on your camera?

 

Yes, "Laine" is wool, Bakersgma.

Does anyone remember when "fabric content" labels were mandated and which countries participate(d) in the content labeling?????

For some reason I am not getting a USA vibe.

I am leaning more toward this being a "one-of-a-kind" artistic statement.

 

Do you think this might be some kind of faux hide?

 

Thanks Bakersma & Yourturn....They are not faux hide No labels & they could be one of a kind...I like them & will keep for a while

 

Possibly cow hide. Scroll down this page and you can see some that resemble the coloring on your stool.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cow...KEwjWg5KkjIrKAhXH9h4KHY8QBCcQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=_

 

I get an 80s Italian vibe. Maybe even 90s.

 

When I first saw them and each time I come back to them, my thought is shoe store.
Do you remember going into the shoe department and being fitted for shoes. The salesman sat on a small stool?

So are you in an area that would have a high end shoe store? LOL.

 

I think you could be correct, Clutteredcloset.

The chartreuse fabric appears to be some sort of felt, but I'm not sure - where are our fabric mavins here? These are definitely MCM commercial construction store fixture stools and yes they look like they could be from a shoestore.

 

I believe the Fabric is cowhide...Some of them are worn & have a leather underside....It is too tall at 28" to be a shoe store stool..1980`s Italian design,was my first instinct....Finding a designer or Mfg. without a label or comparable will be difficult.

 

Not a lot to add but I think I have seen these or similar before. The 80s-90s Italian is probably correct. I was active in the new furniture business in the early 90s and went to a lot of trade shows. There was a lot of unbranded Italian modern furniture on the market then. A lot was similar to this with the chrome wire construction.