"Super comfortable" chair of stone made by Limerick designer

A CHAIR costing close to €10k will be displayed at a new art event in Dublin.

The €9,500 chair was made with the same historic Irish slate used in Westminster Abbey and will be among the star attractions at the event.

Designed by award-winning Limerick architect and furniture designer Edwyn James Hickey, the Valentia Slate chair is being exhibited by Dublin’s Sol Gallery at Art Evolve at the RDS.

The unique art fair, running from April 4–6, will see members of the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA) join forces with other established galleries to bring the best in Irish and international contemporary art under one roof.

The chair came to life after Limerick-born designer Hickey learned that there had been a quarry on Kerry’s Valentia Island when he was visiting for a work project. 

He researched further and found massive chambers of stone reminiscent of Skellig Michael, which he said transported him to a different world.

The quarry, which first opened in 1816, once employed over 450 people.  

In 2018, it was bought by Killarney geologist Dr Aidan Forde and stone is once again being quarried there.

Last year, Valentia Slate was given global designation as a heritage stone and was most recently used on the roof of The Rubrics building in Trinity College Dublin.

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It also provided slates for the construction of international landmark buildings such as Paris Opera House and London’s Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Weighing 210kg, Hickey’s Valentia chair, which he made last year, uses the slate on two side pieces, and the seat is made of highly engineered and folded steel with luxury black German leather upholstery.

“It’s super comfortable, my work is about making things practical as well as aesthetically pleasing,” he said.

“It is a statement piece. This is going to be a rare stone in the future. There’s not an endless supply of it. When people buy a piece like this, they’re buying into that.”

Involving 70 galleries and artists, it will also feature an installation by internationally acclaimed Irish street artist Maser, showcasing various chapters of his working life and offering visitors the chance to engage with the artist.

Other artists' work being displayed at the event include Cork-born painter Tom Climent, Italian artist Sandro Chia, and celebrated sculptor Rowan Gillespie.

For booking information, see www.artevolve.ie.