For French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, the quintessential vision of America “is the view of a rocking chair sitting on an open porch”. It was also a source of inspiration for his ‘Harper’ rocking chair for American furniture brand Bernhardt Design.
“For me, designing a new rocking chair is the ideal way to celebrate the heritage, imagination, and craftsmanship of Bernhardt Design.” says Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance. “The Windsor rocking chair, whose complexity and refinement are remarkable, served as my inspiration. I wanted to take essential elements of the Windsor rocker and put them together in a new and different manner.”
“That’s why it was also important to use classic American woods, maple for the spindles and cherry for the structure. The contrast between the two woods enables you to follow the form of the chair and gives an idea of dynamism and even aerodynamism; which is appropriate for a chair that is about motion. In addition to this particular harmony, the other special aspect of Harper is that you can experience something different from every perspective, changing and becoming something new.”
Harper was named in honor of Bernhardt Designs founder Anne Harper Bernhardt, the Harper chair is constructed in solid American cherry and American maple.
to the Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance website