Daniel Lizarralde Aguirre

Chair maker

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Take a seat

Daniel is the keeper of an almost extinct craft
He is inspired by the work of Thonet, Jacob & Josef Kohn and Fischel
He always strives to do the best you know and realise there is no way to make it better

Daniel Lizarralde Aguirre did not complete his degree in engineering because he was drawn to the study of furniture conservation and restoration, which better suited his love of manual tasks. Over the years – thanks to a range of different experiences – he learned how to master chairmaking, chair seats and basket weaving. Daniel is an enthusiastic multitasker. In 2015, he also opened Zurjole, a workshop serving also as a craftsmanship academy. Chairmaking requires a proficiency in woodworking and the skill of weaving different natural fibres in several patterns like checkerboard, right-angle and under-over. His ingenuity allows him to devise customised patterns, interpreting clients’ wishes. The making process is 100 percent manual, he considers himself as the keeper of an almost extinct know-how, and has made the handing over of his knowledge a mission.

Interview

Is your craft dwindling in popularity?
Sadly, together with my apprentice, we are the only ones left making the “rejilla clásica” (or classic cane) as far as manual seat weaving is concerned. I learnt how to make this pattern while supporting blind women at the Ciegas de San Rafael, a charity institution in San Sebastián founded over a century ago.
How important is innovation in your craft?
The manufacturing process remains 100 percent manual. I consider the incorporation of tools which make the cutting wood step easier as innovative. Communication has been the greatest source of innovation, thanks to the use of internet and email exchange, both with the client as well as searching for suppliers.
Do you find restoration as rewarding as creating?
I enjoy working with my hands and experiencing how through weaving, a seat is revived, hour after hour. Restoring a chair is like giving it a second life, it is priceless to see, for instance a n.14 Thonet, in full shape after repairing its wood and making a new seat.
What makes your craft special?
Let me answer with a metaphor: chairs speak to us and tell us what they need, we must carefully listen to them. Steadiness is determined by the noise produced by the four legs while sliding; a little trick people may not necessarily be familiar with.

Daniel Lizarralde Aguirre is a master artisan: he began his career in 1998 and he started teaching in 2015