Horn Stool

The point of this project is double: to revive horn- a forgotten material, which, once used by all cultures, unites as people; and a natural, biodegradable, near-identical alternative to plastic- for use in furniture making, and to explore the nature of pain and the theory of emotional appraisal.
The bed of spikes challenges the user's notions of pain and negative emotion, by encouraging interaction with the initially painful, but quickly dispersed feeling of hurt. It promotes an ascetic lifestyle and makes the user contemplate the purpose of pain and the role of consciousness in the conception of pain.
The cattle horn are real, and were purchased online. They were attached to the stool in the crude but sturdy fashion of 1800s furniture makers. A wooden flange was cut to the exact shape of the inside of each horn (each being hollow on the inside), and screwed both to the horn and to the seat. The result is extremely strong and has withstood being stood on.
The Horn Stool is a high-end, luxury statement piece and conversation starter. It is a highly interactive object that demands the user's attention every second it is being used.