The once forgotten Bauhaus schemel

With the Model I, Rowac brought the world's first riveted furniture made of lightweight steel to market in 1909. This was the impetus for the development of ergonomic seating in the furniture industry. Numerous factories and schools were furnished with the so-called "Rowac-Schemel". In the 1920s, this piece of furniture was so well regarded that architects explicitly chose it for their projects. This was also the case with Walter Gropius, who implemented the Rowac schemel for his new Bauhaus building in Dessau.

Rivet your eyes on this

In contrast to conventionally welded steel furniture, which cracks when overloaded, riveted constructions bend only slightly at most. Structural stiffeners provide additional support while at the same time allowing for an astonishingly lightweight construction. It’s no wonder that many Rowac-Schemel have been in use for over 100 years.

Gateway to the silver Ore Mountains

In 1888 Rowac started production in Chemnitz, the gateway to the “silver Ore Mountains”. Since the expropriation in 1946, there have been no more Rowac-Schemel produced and there are only a few old treasures left. The new production takes place exclusively within a 40 km radius. Here, the metal parts are stamped, riveted together, painted and fitted with seat tops. The PEFC-certified wood used for production is sourced from the Ore Mountains and processed by experienced woodturners in an environmentally friendly manner.

The classic - just taller. In the past, the Rowac-Schemel with its 75 cm seating height offered unusual stability while operating large machines, today it’s the perfect bar stool. A second strut serves as a comfortable footrest and reinforces the overall construction.

Manufactured true to the original in the Ore Mountains. Available with a seat top in solid beech, ash, black ash or oak.

Details
Regional production: within 40 km of Chemnitz
Frame: cold rolled steel, formed and riveted
Frame surface: powder-coated
Seat top: PEFC-certified wood, oiled (wood is a natural material, grain and colour vary - each seat top is therefore unique).