Despite Lufthansa’s best effort we made it back to Leipzig yesterday evening.

We only hope our luggage will arrive this evening.

And despite the joy at being back in our green oasis with our wonderful view over the romantic historical ruins of East Plagwitz, Milan remains very much in our thoughts and we will continue to intersperse the blog with news and updates.

214 by Michael Thonet - a couple of bits of wood and a little skill.

As we never tire of telling anyone who will listen to us, furniture needn’t be complicated.
The design process can be complicated yes, but not the final product.

The 214 by Michael Thonet, for example, or the S 43 by Mart Stamm both being perfect examples of how simple a good chair can be. And indeed the Thonet stand in Milan perfectly demonstrated not only this maxim, but also how a company such as Thonet can remain innovative and contemporary without losing sight of their heritage. Stools such as the 404 series from Stefan Diez working wonderfully with the Michael Thonet classics such as the 209.

404 H by Stefan Dietz for Thonet

As an addition to the 404 range Thonet now offer it as a delightful, three-legged bar-chair. version; the saddle-shaped seat meaning that seating comfort is guaranteed even over a longer period.

Another German manufacturer who live by the motto that less is more -and certainly more comfortable - is Richard Lampert. The Egon Eiermann table frames, for example, being a fine example of what can be achieved with a few lengths of chrome - if you shape them correctly. On their stand in Milan Lampert reinforced this simple conecpt, and in a similar fashion to Thonet,  also clearly demonstrated how easy good modern design can be mixed with design classics.  Herbert Hirche studied at Bauhaus under Wassily Kandinsky and later worked for Egon Eiermann - and his classic 1950s Lounge Chair shows that he had not only paid attention but also reflected on what he had learnt.

In-out by Eric Degenhardt (and sidetable Flip by Alexander Seifried) both for Richard Lampert

In 2006 the German designer Eric Degenhardt slightly re-worked Hirche’s design - a process that obviously left an impression on Degenhardt as can be seen in in his wonderful In-Out chair. Again based on the simple bent chrome concept, in-out may look supiciously like a cheap angler’s chair, but is a wonderfully comfortable, relaxing armchair in which we could well imagine spending a summer evening in the garden or a winter afternoon in front of the telly. And, as the name suggests, one comes easily in and out - your smow(blog) team having tested it extensively.

The (smow) blog has more than once suggested that designer furniture is more than just a comfortable place to sit of an evening or a convenient ledge on which to place your coffee while reading the paper; and that a well constructed piece of quality designer furniture can be a real investment.

Proof of this theory, if it were needed, can currently be found at the TEFAF Maastricht - one of the world largest and most important art and antique fairs.

For the first time in its 34 year history the Dutch trade fair is officially including 20th century design, and for all designer furniture in its programme.

Frans Leidelmeijer at TEFAF 2006. Booth designed by Ron Arad (http://www.leidelmeijer.nl/)

We use the word “officially” because in dealers such as the Amsterdam based Frans Leidelmeijer have been sneaking modern designer furniture pieces into for a couple of years now. In 2006 Leidelmeijer displayed exhibits in a wooden booth designed by Ron Arad.

In addition to Frans Leidelmeijer a range of dealers from Holland, Belgium, France and the UK will be offering furniture and art works from designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve and Isamu Noguchi, to name just a few.

Although auction sales of classic design furniture regularly occur, the inclusion of modern designers in a trade fair that traditionally concentrates on the more conservative and “stuffy” world of antiques and tribal art is an important event as it indicates the importance of the designer furniture market and the standing of designers such as Verner Panton, Joe Colombo or Eero Saarinen

Eames ETR Table by Vitra

Those of you in or near Maastricht -or indeed Holland or Belgium - between the 13 and 22nd of March and who have the opportunity should visit the TEFAF and not only marvel at the designs and creativity of the last century, but also chat with the exhibitors as regards originals and copies and whether a 1950s ETR Table by Charles and Ray Eames is more “genuine” than one from 2009 - there is enough reference material here in the (smow)blog.

And for those planning making investments for the future, smow stocks ever more designs from the 21st century, and who knows maybe in 30 years someone will display furniture from Boge and Frey in a landed by Eric Degenhardt.

Landed by Eric Deghardt for Lampert (Photo: http://www.richard-lampert.de)

At the imm in Cologne the German producer “Richard Lampert” once again proved that they can produce more than just the classic, timeless Eiermann Table. With a prototype of “Landed” by Eric Degenhardt the Stuttgart based company almost completed a leap into architecture. Almost. For while in models and sketches one could easily confuse Degenhardt’s creation with a concept building; close up one realizes that it is in fact an exceptional piece of furniture design. “Landed” with its multiple levels and clever use of height has several possible uses: As a garden house in warmer climates; as a children’s room in a loft flat; or as an isolated work space or relaxing room in an open-plan office - an extension of Vitra’s Net’n'Nest concept, as it were.

Plenty of room for a Eiermann Table inside (Photo: http://www.richard-lampert.de)

At the moment Landed is still in the development phase and it will be 2010 at the earliest before a finished version is available. When it is you can be certain that smow will be able to supply you with one. Just don’t ask for it to be gift wrapped!!