Last week I was walking by E.R. Butler & Co., the architectural hardware shop in SoHo, when I saw designer Deborah Erhlich?s ultra-slim wood dining chairs in the window. The three chairs?so svelte they were like a sculpture?had me thinking of similar pared back designs.

Above: Designer Deborah Ehrlich?s Chair was made by a New England artisan from heart hickory or bleached ash, materials that are strong enough to be thin but still structurally sound??the equivalent of crystal,? says Ehrlich.

Above: Ochre’s Sable Chair is made with Italian leather tightly stretched across a steel frame. Contact Ochre for pricing and availability. For more on the design, see our post A Seat at the Table: The New Dining Chair from Ochre.

Above: The Rubber Chair by Belgium company Heerenhuis, is made of steel and rubber; £225 ($300) from Different Like a Zoo. For more photos of the chair, see our post New from Heerenhuis: A Barely There Dining Chair.
Above: The Gio Ponti Supperleggera Chair, shown in black, was designed in 1957 off the traditional Chiavari chair?an ultralightweight frame?with a natural woven India cane seat. It’s currently manufactured by Cassina and available for £1,194 ($1,550) at Conran. You can also find vintage versions on Pamono and 1st Dibs.

Above: The Leggerissima Chair, designed by one of the last Chiavari chair makers in Liguria, is ultralightweight and available in a range of finishes; ?890 ($999) from Eligo. For more styles of Chiavari ch...