The Century Chair by Satoshi Itasaka is a solid wood chair carved from a single block of timber sourced from trees more than 100 years old in southern Japan. The wood retains visible growth rings and grain variations, which are preserved through controlled drying and hand-finishing. The chair features an upright backrest and a broad base, with continuous grain running across its surfaces without the use of veneers or assembled components.
Itasaka collaborated with a sawmill in Miyazaki to obtain sustainably harvested timber for the project. The chair’s form is shaped to maintain uninterrupted grain flow, with thin and thick planes used to define the seat, legs, and backrest. Surface finishes are kept minimal to allow the natural colour shifts and markings of the wood to remain visible. The piece is produced using traditional woodworking techniques rather than modular or composite construction.
Structural Solid Wood Chairs
Satoshi Itasaka’s Century Chair Uses Timber Over 100 Years Old
Trend Themes
1. Single-block Timber Furniture - Designs carved from a single timber block open possibilities for products that emphasize material continuity and structural integrity over assembly and modularity.
2. Visible Grain Authenticity - The celebration of uninterrupted growth rings and natural markings signals consumer demand for furniture that foregrounds provenance and organic aesthetics.
3. Heritage-sourced Sustainability - Sourcing century-old wood from sustainably managed regional forests highlights narratives of longevity and traceable supply chains in material selection.
Industry Implications
1. High-end Furniture - Luxury makers can differentiate through single-piece constructions that position craft, material rarity, and visible aging as core value drivers.
2. Architectural Interiors - Boutique hospitality and premium commercial spaces may favor structural solid-wood elements to convey permanence and tactile warmth within interiors.
3. Sawmill and Timber Supply - Regional mills handling aged, sustainably harvested logs become strategic partners by offering traceability, specialized drying processes, and select timbers for monolithic pieces.