Today’s production of Chiavari Chairs still preserves the sheer craftsmanship that goes into their creation by faithfully retracing the steps that Campanino himself took more than two centuries ago, right in his workshop.
Our skills were born in the very heart of our family which has been working with wood for more than three generations, safeguarding its secrets. Even with different life stories, we come together as carpenters that have the same passion: crafting the wood with our own hands.
Our selection journey starts in the Ligurian hinterland forests. This is the place where we identify the trees for cutting according to their shapes and sizes.
The chosen tree will be cut only when the time is right, keeping in mind very specific factors like the seasons and the phases of the moon.
Immediately after cutting, the trunk is taken to the lumberyard where, under specific instructions from the carpenter, it will be cut into boards of different thickness depending on the part of the chair it will be used for.
This stage is fundamental in establishing the quality of the raw materials and their durability over time.
To achieve the best results, drying the wood must be done in a strictly natural way, allowing air flow to gradually dehydrate it.
Drying times depend on the boards’ thickness. It usually takes between two to five years to ensure optimal performance.
The actual woodwork can only begin when the wood is dried to perfection. The boards are then taken into the workshop where they are cut and shaped using the relevant mold for each of the chair’s pieces.
First, the boards are shaped using a hand-guided machine so that they can be carefully refined by hand until even the smallest imperfection is gone.
The hours that go into sanding the wood in order to obtain a surface that strives to perfection are countless. Some of the parts are actually modelled manually with a precision that is impossible to obtain using industrial machinery.
The weaving of the seat plays a big role in the excellent strength of the structure.
The thin, but extremely strong Indonesian rush threads are woven with quick and confident gestures by patient hands directly on the assembled chair, following a weft and warp design.
This is the last stage of creation: it enhances the character of the materials and it offers protection against aging and humidity.
The materials and colors that you can choose from for your craft product are endless. The variety of choices is meant to satisfy the taste and style of each one of our customers, even the most demanding.
Sign up below to watch our 10-minute short film where you can discover our story and experience our workshop.
