1930s cider press screw becomes sculptural stool in wood

Reimagining vintage agricultural objects into contemporary furniture has become a fascinating pursuit for modern designers. Studio Jumel, in collaboration with creative Ariane Ronot, has given a new lease on life to a 1930s French cider press, transforming its historic mechanical core into a striking piece of functional art rooted in Normandy apple-growing traditions.

Titled LE PRESSOIR, the stool repurposes the original wooden screw mechanism of the press to serve as its four legs. The design deliberately preserves the aged textures, weathered surfaces, and physical irregularities accumulated over decades of agricultural use. This timeworn timber is securely joined together by a cross-shaped structure fabricated from 3 mm-thick aluminum.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The design creates a compelling tactile contrast between the rough, untreated historic wood and the precise, vibrated finish of the newly manufactured aluminum components. The openwork pattern of the metal frame references the delicate form of apple blossoms, while the helical profile of the seat mirrors the geometry of the original turning screw.