Cow chair by Niels van Eijk

Niels van Eijk
Cow chair, 1997

Crafted from a single, untreated cowhide, the Cow Chair is shaped without frames, stitching, or added structure. The hide is soaked, stretched over a mold, and left to dry for a week — transforming into a rigid, sculptural form that’s both furniture and conversation piece.

Each chair is completely unique, bearing the natural textures, markings, and personality of the hide it’s made from. Created as a graduation project, this bold experiment in material and form quickly became an icon of Dutch design.