# 1930s French Cider Press Reimagined as Sculptural Aluminum Stool Studio Jumel and Ariane Ronot repurpose historical timber mechanisms into contemporary furniture. - **Source:** [design archives | designboom | architecture & design magazine](https://brifing.si/source/11868f8d-1e20-41ac-bc2d-8c5af32d721b) - **Published:** 2026-10-12 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b99f2dea-a1e9-4b84-91f3-503b8a161d1c ## Heritage Meets Contemporary Design Studio Jumel, in collaboration with designer Ariane Ronot, has unveiled LE PRESSOIR, a sculptural stool crafted from a 1930s French cider press. Rooted in Normandy’s cider-making traditions, the piece transforms authentic agricultural machinery into high-end contemporary furniture, preserving historical craft while introducing refined modern fabrication techniques. ## Reclaiming Functional Timber Mechanisms The project repurposes the original wooden screw mechanism from the press into the stool's four legs. By retaining the aged texture, patinas, and physical irregularities built up over decades of agricultural use, the designers allow the material history of rural production to dictate the object's visual character. ## Engineered Aluminum Structural Core To unite the reclaimed timber components, the designers developed a cross-shaped connecting structure made from 3 mm-thick aluminum. This precision-engineered metallic frame directly contrasts with the weathered wood, providing essential structural rigidity while establishing an intentional dialog between historic craftsmanship and modern industrial processing methods. ## Symbolic Botanical Perforations The aluminum connecting element features an openwork profile referencing regional apple blossoms, embedding contextual symbolism directly into the metalwork. This delicate floral motif softens the industrial metal while anchoring the physical component back to Normandy’s historic apple orchards and traditional regional cider production processes. ## Helical Seat Geometry LE PRESSOIR’s seat incorporates a distinctive helical profile designed to mirror the geometry of the original vintage cider press screw. This continuity in form ensures that the mechanical movement of the original artifact remains visually legible, linking functional seating ergonomic requirements with the dynamic contours of historic press machinery. ## Dual Material Surface Finishes The metalwork undergoes a specialized vibrated and brushed finishing process, creating a tactile matte surface that harmonizes with the rough timber. By carefully matching the light reflectivity of new metal to the dry wood grain, the stool achieves material cohesion without hiding the age of either component. ## Precise Spatial Proportions Measuring exactly 45 cm in height and 42 cm in width and depth, the piece maintains the standard ergonomic envelope of a functional stool. These compact dimensions ensure that despite its heavy sculptural appearance and mechanical origins, LE PRESSOIR remains an accessible, versatile object for modern residential and commercial interiors. ## Elevating Circular Material Narratives LE PRESSOIR illustrates how circular design strategies can transcend simple recycling by embedding deep cultural storytelling into functional objects. By pairing obsolete rural equipment with refined metalwork, Studio Jumel and Ariane Ronot offer a compelling model for preserving industrial heritage through modern furniture design. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.designboom.com/design/1930s-cider-press-screw-sculptural-stool-reclaimed-wood-brushed-aluminum-le-pressoir-studio-jumel-ariane-ronot/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._