This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
The Stool by Michel Péclard, designed in 1955 and produced by Horgen-Glarus in Switzerland, is a modest but finely resolved example of mid-century Swiss furniture design. Made from beech and birch, the stool demonstrates how a simple everyday object can express careful proportion, material economy and disciplined construction.
Rather than relying on ornament, Péclard’s design uses structure, balance and the natural qualities of wood to create visual interest. Its compact form, clean geometry and practical purpose align with the broader modernist emphasis on useful objects that are durable, elegant and suited to everyday interiors.
Background
Horgen-Glarus has played a significant role in the history of Swiss furniture production. Established in 1880 in Horgen, near Zurich, and expanded in 1902 with a workshop in Glarus, the company became known for high-quality wooden chairs and tables. Its work has long been associated with precision, functional clarity and refined craftsmanship.
The firm’s reputation was strengthened through its association with modern architecture and design. Le Corbusier exhibited chairs made by Horgen-Glarus at the Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau during the 1925 Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs in Paris, presenting them as examples of contemporary interior design suited to modern living.
Design and Materials
The stool’s use of beech and birch reflects a practical and material-sensitive approach to furniture making. Beech is strong, stable and commonly used in chair production, while birch offers a lighter visual quality and fine grain. Together, the woods support a design that is structurally reliable while retaining a warm, natural appearance.
Its restrained form places emphasis on the relationship between seat, legs and support. The design avoids unnecessary decoration, allowing the object’s proportions and joinery to carry the visual weight. This gives the stool a quiet sculptural quality while preserving its everyday usefulness.
Swiss Modernism and Craftsmanship
Swiss modern furniture often combines industrial discipline with craft knowledge. Péclard’s stool belongs to this tradition through its simplicity, structural honesty and controlled use of material. It is not a flamboyant design, but its strength lies in its clarity: every element appears considered, functional and proportionate.
Horgen-Glarus continues to be recognised for combining traditional woodworking with modern production methods. This continuity gives historical designs such as Péclard’s stool additional importance, linking mid-century ideals of simplicity and durability with contemporary ideas about sustainable, long-lasting furniture.
Design Significance
The 1955 stool is significant because it shows how small-scale furniture can embody larger design principles. Its value does not depend on dramatic form or luxury materials, but on proportion, restraint and workmanship. As a utilitarian object, it demonstrates the modernist belief that good design should improve ordinary domestic life through clarity and care.
Michel Péclard’s stool remains a useful example of mid-century Swiss design: understated, practical and quietly elegant. It reflects a design culture in which furniture was expected to be both functional and aesthetically disciplined, with beauty emerging from construction, material and proportion.
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