Gillis

Overview

Gillis (2019) is a small, low armchair from Vincent Van Duysen, made by Molteni&C. The page calls it compact and low, and says it was originally conceived for hospitality spaces such as hotel lobbies, lounges and bars; the datasheet adds bedrooms and describes it as an occasional armchair for the home, set alongside larger sofas.

Image source: Molteni&C — Gillis · © Molteni&C and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

The frame is solid wood throughout. The datasheet gives stained solid ash (Fraxinus excelsior) with bonded hide leather bearing straps and plastic feet tips, and notes that the backrest also serves as the armrest. The straps carry the seat and the backrest; loose seat and back cushions sit on them.

Specifications

• GPOL1 armchair: 71 cm wide and 88 cm deep; the drawing's tallest vertical value is 71 cm, which is not labelled on the drawing
• Frame finish: ash stained eucalyptus
• Bonded hide leather finishes: black, dark brown, dove grey, ivory, mud green, natural

Made for hotel rooms and homes

Molteni&C describes Gillis as an armchair first thought out for hospitality interiors: hotel lobbies, lounges and bars on the page, and bedrooms as well on the datasheet. The same texts place it in houses, either beside a larger sofa or as a reading chair.

Straps instead of a sprung seat

In the page's account, ergonomic leather straps give the seat and backrest their structural support and flex gently to follow the body, while the cushions on top come in leather or textile from the Molteni&C range. The datasheet describes the whole as a classic all-wood frame in which the backrest doubles as an armrest.

Image source: Molteni&C — Gillis · © Molteni&C and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy