This leg concept is in essence two straight components that are jointed together at the base and forced apart at the top, creating organic curves without the traditional process of steam bending or the modern process of lamination. By not being steam bent, which to a greater or lesser extent weakens the material, the split leg maintains its strength. As opposed to a laminated bend, this method relies on and harnesses the natural stress and elasticity of wood rather than constraining it.
When forced apart, the components mutually pre-stress one another, employing wood’s natural elasticity to create stiffness from much smaller stock than would be possible in typical furniture. The word “stress” has negative connotations in everyday use, but it is the correct term to use when describing compressive and tensile force. A bent piece of wood or tree branch is compressed on the concave side and in tension (stretched) on the convex side. In structural engineering, a pre-stressed structure is a load-bearing structure whose overall integrity, stability and security depend primarily on pre-stressing: the intentional creation of permanent stresses in the structure for the purpose of improving its performance under various service conditions.
Harnessing these stresses means the TEPASSÉ Split Leg can be made from very small-sectioned components and can do away with stretcher rails such as those found in Windsor chairs to hold them stiff. Because there are no rails or undercarriage holding the legs totally rigid, they can indistinguishably splay when under load. This means that when sat upon, all four legs can individually flex to make contact with the floor, resulting in a chair that does not rock on moderately uneven floors.
