Backen­zahn Stool, Black Oak

To cele­brate a quarter-century of the Backen­zahn, e15 has intro­duced a special edition of Philipp Mainzer’s signa­ture design, now swathed in a deep, matte-black finish. Part of the e15 Selected collec­tion, this iter­a­tion moves beyond the golden hues of raw timber to embrace a moodier, more alchem­i­cal aesthetic. The black­ened tone is not merely a surface stain but the result of a reac­tive process where natural ingre­di­ents meet the wood’s own tannic acid, a tech­nique that manages to darken the oak while preserv­ing the distinct, organic textures and delib­er­ate splits that have made the stool a modern icon.

The Backen­zahn Black retains its sculp­tural author­ity, its four tapered legs evoking a sense of rooted perma­nence that feels remark­ably grounded. As a collector’s item, it repre­sents a bridge between the tradi­tional crafts­man­ship of the past twenty-five years and a sharp, contem­po­rary inno­va­tion. Whether utilized as an occa­sional seat or, in its flat-top vari­a­tion, as a mini­mal­ist plinth, the piece serves as a silent, strik­ing testa­ment to enduring design.