Rowac Schemel — An Icon of Industrial Design
Rowac Schemel
Since 1888, an icon of German industrial design. The world's first riveted sheet steel seat, handcrafted in the Ore Mountains.
A Century of History
In 1888, Robert Wagner founded Rowac in Chemnitz, at the gateway to the Ore Mountains of Saxony. In 1909, he created the world's first riveted sheet steel seat: the Rowac-Schemel. Its robustness and functional design quickly won over factories, schools and workshops across Germany.
The quality of the Schemel was such that the greatest architects chose it for their projects. Walter Gropius adopted it for the Bauhaus in Dessau in 1925, cementing its status as an icon of industrial design.
Riveted Construction
Unlike conventional welded steel furniture, which cracks when overloaded, riveted constructions only bend slightly. Structural stiffeners provide additional support while allowing for an astonishingly lightweight construction.
It is this ancestral technique, the same used for 19th century bridges and steel structures, that gives the Rowac-Schemel its exceptional longevity. Many examples are still in use after more than 100 years.
Made in the Ore Mountains
After the expropriation of 1946, production of the Rowac-Schemel ceased for decades. Today, this industrial icon is reborn, handcrafted true to the original, within a 40 km radius of Chemnitz.
The metal parts are stamped, riveted, painted and fitted with solid wood seat tops. The PEFC-certified wood is sourced from the Ore Mountains and processed by experienced woodturners in an environmentally friendly manner.
Finishes & Wood Types
Rowac furniture was so well regarded that architects explicitly chose it for their projects.— About Walter Gropius and the Bauhaus
The Collection
Schemel — 50 cm
From 395 €
The classic. 50 cm seat height, ideal as a versatile stool for kitchen, workshop or office. Only 3.8 kg.
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Schemel — 75 cm
From 495 €
The classic, just taller. 75 cm seat with built-in footrest, perfect as a bar or island stool. 6.2 kg.
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