For carpenter Maria Mache, four principles guide every piece: sustainability, timeless design, clean lines, and rich wood grain. She learned her craft in a Schanze workshop before taking over the business. Through Schanzenholz, she transforms the wild character of exceptional woods by revealing their unique grain patterns, creating furniture that endures—pieces that breathe new life into any space.

She developed the librarian's chair—also known as a ladder chair—with former business partner Wenzel Krüger. The concept emerged from a book-loving client with tall shelves who wanted to keep her living room free of a traditional ladder. Stumbling upon an antique, rickety ladder chair at a flea market together, the spark ignited. The chair shown here is custom-fitted to the client's exact proportions, crafted from American walnut and finished with solvent-free oil. Every design choice is intentionally restrained. The dual function remains hidden until discovered—the form speaks quietly, letting the wood take center stage. Between sitting and climbing, no ornament is needed. Creating this piece required careful calibration: with numerous angles and milling operations, success came through persistent experimentation and refinement.

www.schanzenholz.de

Photography Credits:

Wenzel Krüger
Rosemarie Schönthaler
www.rosemarieschoenthaler.com

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 04|20)