Matang et Natasha Sumant, Matang chair

Natasha Sumant and Matang
 
Matang chair
 
The square-shaped ash wood frame is dyed with indigo and assembled with white Makrana marble keys. The seat is made of natural cotton fabric dyed with turmeric, madder root and annatto seeds.
 
Natasha Sumant and Matang designed this chair as an interpretation of the classic planters chair. This piece of furniture, synonymous with the colonial age, was mostly seen on a veranda overlooking the plantation fields. Usually found in muted tones, and with a folding footrest, they decolonized this design by using indigo to dye the wood, one of the first plants India was colonized for. They also removed the footrest, and adapted the form into a more minimal and contemporary geometrical shape.
 
They used white marble from Makrana, a district in Rajasthan, the same marble that was used for the Taj Mahal as a tribute to the Mughal tradition of marble carving. Each piece is hand carved by temple sculptors who have been transmitting their knowledge of this craft through many generations. By working with them, Natasha Sumant and Matang attempted to implement generations of traditional Indian knowledge and heritage craft, to a contemporary representation of the culture.
 
Drawing from natural dyeing techniques in Assam, they used three key materials to build their weaving color palette: turmeric, madder root, and annatto seeds, all spices essential to colonial trade.
 
Contemporary production.
 
Dimensions
Height : 73 cm (28.74 in.)
Width : 47 cm (18.50 in.)
Depth : 63 cm (24.80 in.)
 
 
Price on request.