{"title":"K509 Conformity","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eA copy of a fashionable style, the chair was built to look good and serve its purpose. It spent its life conforming to expectations. When it could no longer do so, it was discarded.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"conformity-done","title":"Conformity Acquired","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eFound in an alley in Beverly Hills in 2023 alongside a second chair of the same model. The second chair had a broken leg and was left behind. This chair was brought home and displayed as an artifact rather than used. Initially intended for reupholstery, it remained unchanged for nearly two years before being revived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe chair showed clear signs of age and use. The polyurethane foam had fully degraded, allowing the springs to be felt through the seat. The webbing supporting the backrest was torn on one side, causing a slight deformation. The wooden frame remained structurally sound. Several screws connecting the legs to the frame had loosened over time and could no longer be tightened effectively. The velvet upholstery was stained in places, while the wooden frame carried scratches and wear consistent with decades of use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TheKarst","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52486403522872,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1002\/2086\/2776\/files\/2025-09-0518.14.21.jpg?v=1781750710"},{"product_id":"conformity-in-work","title":"Conformity Research","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe chair was manufactured by White Furniture Company of Mebane, North Carolina. Founded in 1881, White Furniture was known for producing high-quality traditional American furniture and remained family-owned for more than a century. In 1985 the company was acquired by Hickory White, and the Mebane factory closed in 1993. The surviving upholstery tag identifies the chair as a White Furniture product. Combined with the materials, construction methods, and the company's closure in 1993, it suggests a manufacturing date in the late twentieth century, likely during the 1970s or 1980s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe frame was constructed from solid wood selected for ease of shaping and carving. Decorative details were carved directly into the structure rather than applied later. The seat consisted of zig-zag springs attached to a plywood ring, which was upholstered with polyurethane foam and velvet-like fabric before being bolted to the frame from below. This allowed the upholstered seat to be manufactured separately and installed as a complete assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe chair combines traditional furniture-making with industrial production. Solid wood construction, carved details, polyurethane foam, zig-zag springs, plywood, and standardized hardware coexist within a single object. While designed for efficient manufacturing, the chair retained many characteristics associated with earlier furniture traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TheKarst","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52486411256120,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1002\/2086\/2776\/files\/2025-09-0518.28.53_8a534639-6b11-4436-bc36-6926851fa6f6.jpg?v=1781750817"},{"product_id":"conformity-done-1","title":"Conformity Revived","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe original upholstery, foam padding, and seat assembly were removed. The plywood ring that carried the zig-zag springs was replicated in acrylic. The springs were retained and mounted to the new ring, but inverted and used as display elements rather than functional support. The original manufacturer’s tag was preserved and mounted between two acrylic layers in approximately the same location where it was originally attached.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eNew seat and backrest elements were fabricated from extruded acrylic. The backrest was cut from thinner material, allowing it to bend and follow the original curvature of the frame. All acrylic components were attached directly to the wood using screws. New mounting holes were drilled where required. The seat panel rests on top of the acrylic spring ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe use of extruded acrylic resulted in polished edges that are less transparent than cast acrylic. After several months of use, the surface accumulated visible scratches, a condition not observed on later works fabricated from cast acrylic, even when subjected to heavier use. The seat construction also produces significant squeaking when seated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;\"\u003eAs the acrylic elements are replaceable, future revisions may revisit the intervention using approaches developed in later works.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TheKarst","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52486413025592,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1002\/2086\/2776\/files\/DSC_6299.jpg?v=1781750906"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1002\/2086\/2776\/collections\/Screenshot_2026-06-10_191309.png?v=1781144024","url":"https:\/\/thekarst.com\/collections\/k509-conformity-1.oembed","provider":"TheKarst","version":"1.0","type":"link"}