The Navy Wood Chair by Emeco

A natural evolution of the original 1944 Navy Chair.

Made in 1944 for the U.S. Navy as a practical, hard-wearing chair for submarines, the Emeco Navy Chair transformed over the years from a utilitarian design into a sought-after designer product. Italian designer Ettore Sottsass was the first to use the chair in a different environment: high-end interiors. As more architects and interior designers incorporated the chair into their projects, the Navy Chair left its original industrial and public settings to enter refined living spaces. Since its launch, the design has been in continuous production. Emeco has introduced several new versions over the past few years, in different materials and colors. The Emeco collection now also includes an Ettore Sottsass design, the Nine-0 chair that draws inspiration from the Navy Chair.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Navy Chair, Emeco has recently launched another version of the beloved design. The Navy Wood Chair retains the same silhouette, comfortable seat, and distinctive forms of the original, but complements them with the warmth of solid wood. Smooth and warm to the touch, the chair also features organic textures and grain patterns along with rich brown colors. Emeco offers the chair in white oak and walnut wood, with a black stained oak version also available.

Made from locally sourced wood that comes from sustainably managed forests, the chairs are as eco-friendly as they are elegant. The legs feature soft plastic glides that protect even the most delicate flooring surfaces. To ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship, Emeco collaborates with Amish woodworkers from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to make the Navy Wood Chair collection. The perfect way to mark the anniversary of an iconic design. Photographs© Emeco.