Blue Rope, Meltdown Series

Design Tom Price, UK

Blue Rope Meltdown was featured in a recent exposition at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City called 'Second Lives'. 

 The Meltdown Series is the result of an experimental process developed by Tom Price, which uses a variety of commonplace plastic products to create a strikingly diverse collection of sculptural seating. Drawing on techniques from his background in both fine art and design, Tom Price applies new concepts of craftsmanship in an act of wilful manipulation and material inventiveness.

Despite its sculptural appearance, there is a concern for functionality and comfort. The mould of the seat is based on the familiar generic shape of an Eames chair. The juxtaposition of a modernist, mass-produced shape into a hand-crafted chair reinforces its functionality.

The PP Blue Rope Meltdown Chair is created by heating and pressing a seat-shaped former into a ball of polypropylene rope. The rope begins to liquify as it comes into contact with the heated former and, as it cools, it sets in the shape of a seat creating a contrast in form and texture to the remaining rope. No additional material has been added to make the seat - it is all made from melted rope.

This forms part of a series of chairs created using the same technique with different materials. The re-moulding of the material often creates a strong contrast in texture and appearance between the seat and remaining un-melted material that forms the base.

Blue Rope Chair can also be woven into a bench.

Material: polypropylene (cable) rope

Dimensions: h 70cm w 95cm d 95cm 

Price: £4500.