LEM Bar Stool
Bar Stool
1999 (designed), 2000 (manufactured)
1999 (designed), 2000 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The name of this bar stool, LEM, is short for 'Lunar Excursion Module', and together with the sleek, futuristic appearance, it brings to mind space travel. The design entirely derives from simplified geometry and refined engineering. The chief feature is the steel band that frames the moulded plywood seat and also serves as the footrest. There is nothing extraneous in the design, and nothing that could be described as decorative. Nevertheless, the economy and restraint of the form give it great elegance.
The LEM bar stool has been a major commercial and critical success for its Japanese-born, British-resident designers, and the Italian manufacturer, with over 200,000 being made since its launch in 2000. This example is from the first production run and was given to the Museum by one of the designers, together with design drawings charting its development.
The LEM bar stool has been a major commercial and critical success for its Japanese-born, British-resident designers, and the Italian manufacturer, with over 200,000 being made since its launch in 2000. This example is from the first production run and was given to the Museum by one of the designers, together with design drawings charting its development.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | LEM Bar Stool (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Steel, tubular steel and plywood |
| Brief description | LEM bar stool, designed by Shin Azumi with Tomoko Azumi, 1999, made by La Palma, Italy, 2000, steel, plywood veneered in blached beech. |
| Physical description | Plywood and chrome-plated steel bar stool with a circular base supporting a tubular steel pedestal, incorporating a gas strut to adjust the height. The seat is formed from a bent plywood sheet with a steel frame that also forms the foot rest. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | La Palma (Manufacturers label applied to underside of seat) |
| Credit line | Given by Shin Azumi |
| Object history | The LEM Bar Stool was launched at the Milan Furniture Fair in April 2000 and sales began in early 2001. Until 2008 about 200,000 examples had been made, at about 3,000 units per month. |
| Production | The stool was designed during the period of partnership of Shin and Tomoko Azumi that endured until the end of their marriage in about 2005. During that period all designs were presented as co-authored. Subsequently the designers re-attributed various designs and determined that the LEM Bar Stool was principally the work of Shin Azumi. Nevertheless, in recognition that it was produced during the period of their partnership, Shin and Tomoko have agreed it should be attributed to 'Shin Azumi with Tomoko Azumi'. See RF 2008/201 for more information. LEM stands for Lunar Excursion Module. Attribution note: This example is from the first production run |
| Summary | The name of this bar stool, LEM, is short for 'Lunar Excursion Module', and together with the sleek, futuristic appearance, it brings to mind space travel. The design entirely derives from simplified geometry and refined engineering. The chief feature is the steel band that frames the moulded plywood seat and also serves as the footrest. There is nothing extraneous in the design, and nothing that could be described as decorative. Nevertheless, the economy and restraint of the form give it great elegance. The LEM bar stool has been a major commercial and critical success for its Japanese-born, British-resident designers, and the Italian manufacturer, with over 200,000 being made since its launch in 2000. This example is from the first production run and was given to the Museum by one of the designers, together with design drawings charting its development. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.37-2008 |
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| Record created | August 12, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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