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Hardy Chair has the rare quality of feeling both familiar and entirely its own. Its origins in traditional British chair-making are clearly present, but David Irwin has distilled those references rather than simply reproducing them.
We particularly love the single sweeping back: a beautifully crafted element that gives the chair its unmistakable silhouette while creating a natural place for the arms and shoulders to rest.
It is also wonderfully versatile. Around a dining table Hardy has presence without formality; used alone at a desk or in a bedroom it feels almost sculptural. Most importantly, it is conceived as furniture to be lived with for decades — precisely the combination of usefulness, craftsmanship and longevity we look for in the fōrm&blōm collection.
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Hardy Chair was designed by David Irwin in 2015 to mark Another Country's fifth anniversary and became the starting point for the wider Hardy Collection. The chair subsequently received a Design Guild Mark in 2016.
Its design developed from Irwin's research into Dorset and nineteenth-century furniture, particularly two traditional chair types: the Captain's chair and the Smokers bow, a low-backed Windsor chair once common in cottages, public houses and workshops.
During that research Irwin encountered Thomas Hardy's poem Old Furniture, with its reflections on furniture being passed between generations. That idea of longevity became an important part of the thinking behind Hardy — contemporary furniture intended to remain relevant and useful long enough to acquire a history of its own.
Hardy Chair is made in the UK from solid timber and is equally at home around a dining table, at a desk or used independently as an occasional chair.
Discover more about Another Country, or explore the complete Hardy Collection.
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Oak / Natural
Solid certified oak finished with natural oil and wax, enhancing the warmth, grain and tactile character of the timber.Ash / White
Solid certified ash finished with white oil and wax, retaining a lighter, quieter appearance.Walnut / Natural
Solid walnut finished with natural oil and wax, enhancing the elegant warmth, grain and tactile character of the timber.Ash / Black
Solid certified ash finished in black lacquer, emphasising Hardy Chair's distinctive curved silhouette.Timber is a natural material and variations in grain, colour and character should be expected and celebrated as part of each piece.
For guidance on looking after solid timber and natural finishes, see our Care, Assembly & Maintenance guide.
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Width: 574mm
Depth: 500mm
Overall height: 738mm
Seat height: 458mmIts relatively low, embracing back gives Hardy Chair the character of a carver rather than a conventional upright dining chair, while the 458mm seat height makes it suitable for use with standard dining tables.
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Designer: David Irwin
Maker: Another Country
Collection: Hardy Collection
Made in: UK
Design Guild Mark: 2016Hardy Chair combines traditional chair-making knowledge with contemporary manufacturing, reflecting David Irwin's interest in finding new relevance for established materials and processes.
The chair's defining feature is its single steam-bent back, developed from the language of traditional Captain's chairs and Windsor-style Smokers bows. The wider Hardy family subsequently developed this language through tapered dowel joints, steam-bent elements and softly rounded forms.
Rather than using these techniques to reproduce historical furniture, Irwin refined them into a distinctly contemporary chair whose character comes from its construction, material and proportions.
Made in the UK from solid timber, Hardy Chair was conceived with longevity at its centre — furniture intended not merely to survive changing interiors but to become better known through years of use.
Explore the complete Hardy Collection, or discover more about Another Country.
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Looking for something slightly different?
Most pieces can be adapted to suit individual requirements, whether through alternative dimensions, materials, finishes or other details.
Bespoke possibilities vary by design and are considered individually, with additional design and material costs where applicable.
Please contact us to discuss what may be possible for your project.
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Our furniture collection is designed and made for a long life.
Appropriate care will help natural materials age beautifully and maintain their character over time.
Care and maintenance requirements vary according to material and finish. We recommend following product-specific guidance and using only suitable or approved care products.
Some pieces may require simple assembly on delivery. Product-specific care, assembly and warranty information is available on request.
Please contact us if you would like advice on caring for your furniture.
