Best-selling chair carved from practicality
The evolution of the Lily Chair is a story of both sensibility and artistry. According to Brian Boggs of Brian Boggs Chairmakers, the design of this best-selling seat harkens back to a practical challenge: making a chair that maximized the use of shorter wood pieces, enhancing the yield from available logs. “This pragmatic need sparked new creative possibilities,” he notes. A turning point in the chair’s evolution came in 2010 when Paul Humiller of Dream Guitars approached Boggs about designing chairs specifically for guitarists. “This collaboration pushed me to incorporate more sophisticated curves for both comfort and visual appeal,” he says. “The enthusiastic response to these refinements inspired us to adapt the design into a dining chair.” In the decade since, the Lily Chair has become one of the maker’s signature pieces, with hundreds sold in three iterations: bar stool, dining room chair, and dining side chair. For each form, Boggs uses walnut for the legs — “prized for its ideal balance of weight and strength,” he says. For the seats and backs, he taps cherry, red maple, and walnut, occasionally throwing in “curly” variants of each for visual interest. “More than mere furniture, these chairs make a statement about the owner’s commitment to creating a thoughtfully curated living experience,” says Boggs. “They transform everyday moments into opportunities for appreciation and inspiration.”
Brian Boggs Chairmakers, Asheville. See brianboggschairmakers.com.