About A Chair AAC 23 chair by Hee Welling

HAY presents the AAC 23 as offering the series' "functional simplicity and modern aesthetic," "tempered by the softness and warmth of the upholstered shell." It features the same shell, the same four-legged oak base, and the same dimensions as the AAC 22, available in standard or quilted upholstery.

The upholstered shell, and what the textiles are

The shell is the same as on the non-upholstered models—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 contact is softer and noise is better dampened in high-traffic rooms. Conversely, upholstery must be cleaned by dabbing rather than with a spray.

The covers offered here: Hallingdal 65, a Kvadrat wool (70% wool, 30% viscose), the company's classic, very durable; Sense, HAY's aniline leather, dyed through: it shows the grain and develops a patina with use; Bolgheri, a rich-blend HAY fabric (viscose, wool, polyamide, silk, linen); Remix 3, a heathered Kvadrat wool (92% wool, 8% nylon); Sierra, a protected, pigmented-finish leather from Ca-Mo, uniform and easy to care for. The so-called quilted versions—HAY uses the term quilted—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 write it because the same series includes models in solid wood, the AAC 12, 13, 212, and 213, and nothing in the photo allows one to distinguish between them.

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