Boris Bally's "Transit" chairs have been around for a while now, but it's still worth sharing for those of you (such as myself) who hadn't seen his work before. (If nothing else, their playful aesthetic is perfect for a warm Friday before a holiday weekend... at least for those of us here in the States.)

The Providence-based designer is a metalsmith by training—according to one (possibly apocryphal) account, he was making brass knuckles and throwing stars at age 13—his body of work is more properly classified as industrial design, if not art.

The design itself is nothing special: a highback dining chair, an armchair and tables in various sizes—but the use of salvaged street signs is quite clever, if I say so myself. Champagne corks (makeshift feet) and steel hardware round out the materials

Per Bally's Artist Statement:His current body of work transforms recycled street signs, weapon parts, and a wide variety of found materials into objects for reflection. These pieces celebrate raw American street-aesthetic in the form of objects, often useful, for the home and the body.

Freitag's upcycled bags are the obvious comparison, though to Bally's credit, he's been producing the housewares for at least as long as the Swiss company has been making messenger bags... since the mid-90's.

Bally also has IKEA in his sights: "Transit chairs and tables are dismounted for easy shipping and come with easy to follow instructions, all hardware, including an easy to use hex wrench."

Of course, the $1K+ price tag is rather more appropriate for the Freitag set.