Artisans Put Their Visions Into Practice : Home on the Range

An easy chair that looks as much like a piece of the Grand Canyon as it does something to sit on was among the offerings introduced at last month’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair.

Designer David Strauss of Boston describes as “geomorphic” his chairs and sofas that suggest a Western mesa. To create these soft sculptures, Strauss, a sculptor turned furniture maker, covers a wood frame with a large block of foam. Then he cuts into the foam to simulate forms such as rocky landscapes or leafy trees.

“The weapon of choice is an electric carving knife,” he says.

Once he has the shape he wants, he works out the design for the fabric, usually Ultrasuede or leather. The fabric cover is stitched together, then tucked into place and sewn onto the chair.

The designer also sculpts table bases of wood in rounded shapes.