DESIGN ICON
WHY EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE A…
Each month, the HB team picks a design classic we think you’ll love for ever – this time, our style and interiors editor James Cunningham takes a seat
The design icon: The Tam Tam stool. Who designed it: Henry Massonnet (1922-2005), left, a French designer, entrepreneur and art collector who later became involved in local politics.
When & how: The stool was created in 1968 using moulded plastic, a material that, at the time, was an increasingly popular choice for manufacturers.
WHY WE LOVE IT
As a keen fisherman, Henry Massonnet wanted a practical perch to sit on while casting his net. He soon created the Tam Tam, with a seat that could be popped off to reveal a hollow interior, ideal for storing his raincoat and spools of hook line, while the lightweight plastic material makes it easy to carry around (perfect for transporting it from shed to shoreline). While Massonnet created the stool for his own personal use, he also owned Stamp, a manufacturing business based in the east of France, and so decided to produce the stool commercially. As it turned out, the piece’s appeal extended far beyond its humble beginnings as a two-in-one seat for amateur anglers, and a whopping 12 million units were sold in the first five years alone. The playfully shaped piece, still made using its original moulds, combines with a pocket-friendly price to make this a classic that calls out for everyday use.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT FOR EVER
This is a piece that can be used flexibly throughout the home, as a side table in the bedroom, for example, an eye-catching footstool by the sofa or, closer to its intended use, as a cheerfully hued extra seat around the k
