About A Chair AAC 123 chair by Hee Welling

HAY describes the AAC 123 as having "a wooden frame with tapered legs, with an organic and timeless aesthetic," which "retains the high backrest and generous seat that characterize the series" and rests on "a base with legs slightly angled outwards, for optimal stability." It is the largest of the wooden-legged chairs in the range: 86 cm high, 62 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep.

Upholstered shell, and what the textiles are

The shell is the same as the bare-shell models, a molded recycled polypropylene—as stated on the HAY product sheet—but here it is covered over its entire surface. Foam is placed over the shell and then covered with the chosen upholstery: the feel is softer and noise is better dampened in high-traffic rooms. Conversely, upholstery must be cleaned by dabbing rather than spraying.

The upholstery options offered here: Hallingdal 65, a Kvadrat wool blend (70% wool, 30% viscose), the house classic, very durable; Sense, HAY's aniline leather, dyed through: it allows the grain to show and develops a patina with use; Bolgheri, HAY's fabric with a rich blend (viscose, wool, polyamide, silk, linen). The so-called quilted variants—HAY uses the term quilted—feature topstitching that partitions the padding: the filling does not shift over time, and the relief breaks up the uniform surface.

Oak veneer, and why it is written here

The frame of this model is made of oak veneer: a sheet of real wood glued onto a substrate, rather than solid wood. The HAY product sheet explicitly states this (Water-based lacquered Oak veneer). We mention it because the same series includes solid wood models, the AAC 12, 13, 212, and 213, and nothing in the photo allows you to distinguish between them.

Veneer is not a defect: it provides a more consistent grain appearance, withstands fluctuations in humidity better, and makes the piece lighter. However, it is difficult to sand down. The lacquer is water-based, in a natural or black-stained finish.