First 100 Chairs in One Year

First 100 Chairs in One Year

“My first lesson in oxy-acetylene welding came from a friend with a car-body repair shop. A whole new world opened up to me – this was a quick and effective way for me to make things. I made over 100 chairs in my first year just because I could." | Tagged

A new found passion for welding allowed Tom to teach himself to make tough metal structures - his hobby rapidly expanded into a knack for making furniture from found objects.

The welded salvage furniture quickly found a clientele and as a result Dixon evolved seamlessly over the next few years from welder to craftsman to designer.

In the 80’s the studio expands to 20 people specialising in metalwork and becomes a playground for a whole host of young upstarts from Thomas Heatherwick to Michael Young and Michael Anastassiades.

“As an untrained, uncertified designer, my early obsessions stemmed mostly from the workshop methods I gleaned from friends, from whatever material I could obtain for free or from the primitive tools I bought.” … “My first lesson in oxy-acetylene welding came from a friend with a car-body repair shop in Clapham, South London. A whole new world opened up to me – this was a quick and effective way for me to make things.” … “I probably made over 100 chairs in my first year just because I could.”