PHILIPP MAINZER, 1996
Object
The Backenzahn Stool takes its name from the German word Backenzahn or molar, as its shape resembles that of a tooth and its roots. The stool, made entirely of solid walnut or oak wood, features a square base composed of four inverted cones that taper downward. The four forms that make up the object are separated at the base, which has a cross-shaped joint that emphasizes the stool’s essential geometry.
The seat has a slightly concave shape for added comfort—e15 has also created a version of the stool with a flat top, enhancing its functionality when used as a side table.
Designed by German architect and designer Philipp Mainzer, this stool became an icon of 1990s design and the flagship product of the manufacturer e15. Moreover, it is the piece that launched Mainzer’s career in the world of design and architecture.
The Success of the Backenzahn Stool by E15
This wooden stool has a strongly sculptural character, expressed through the visible wood grain and cracks, which are integral to the design of the piece.
The true protagonist here is the solid wood, a noble material that Mainzer aimed to use in an aesthetic yet sustainable way. Wood has also become the hallmark material of e15, the company founded by Mainzer, which made its name with a debut collection in the 1990s—a collection whose influence is still felt in contemporary design nearly thirty years later.
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