A product designed by Jean Prouvé in 1941 is now being brought out again by Vitra: the Chaise Tout Bois, a chair made entirely of wood. Its design is very similar to that of Prouvé’s famous Standard chair. The profile of the rear part of the frame – the back legs and backrest support – is the hallmark of Prouvé's furniture and architecture, which focuses on the point of union between the seat and backrest, where the stress from the load is greatest.
Prouvé worked on several prototypes of this chair during the war to test the strength of the structure, the joints, the position of the legs and the join between seat and back. His choice of wood depended on what was available at the time. After the war, oak was widely available and highly appreciated for its toughness and durability so it was commonly used in France in ship building and the roofs of some cathedrals. These same features made it ideal for producing an all-wood chair. Today the Chaise Tout Bois, with a reassuring and contemporary aesthetic, is offered in light- and dark-colored oak: a true jewel of craftsmanship, built without using a single screw.