About A Chair AAC 223 chair by Hee Welling

HAY presents the AAC 223 as "the fusion of natural elegance and the classic expression of the four-legged wooden base and the softness of the upholstered shell." Same dimensions as the AAC 222, including low armrests, in standard or quilted upholstery.

The upholstered shell, and what the textiles are

The shell is the same as the un-upholstered models, a molded recycled polypropylene, according to the HAY product sheet, but here it is fully covered. Foam is applied to the shell and then wrapped in the chosen upholstery: the feel is softer and noise is better dampened in high-traffic rooms. In return, upholstery must be cleaned by dabbing and not by hosing down.

The upholstery options offered here: Hallingdal 65, Kvadrat wool (70% wool, 30% viscose), the company's classic, very durable; Sense, HAY's aniline leather, dyed through: it reveals the grain and develops a patina with use. The so-called quilted variants: HAY uses the term quilted: they feature stitching that compartments the padding: the stuffing does not shift over time, and the texture breaks up the solid surface.

Oak veneer, and why it is written here

The base 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 makes it possible to distinguish between them.

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