Zoe lounge armchair by Verzelloni

A ±5% tolerance, stated in writing: the honesty inside Zoe

Verzelloni

Lievore Altherr Molina

Visitor chair
Zoe xl133 An icon of Italian design Visitor chair
£ 2,569

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Trade terms for professionals and design studios

Furniture datasheets rarely admit a variance. The one for Zoe does: because expanded polystyrene does not assure a constant density, the manufacturer declares that filling volume may vary and asks that a tolerance of ±5% be considered acceptable between one armchair and the next.

That single line tells you more than a paragraph of adjectives. It means the shape is made of material rather than moulded to a mould, that two identical orders will be siblings rather than clones, and that the maker would rather say so than be asked later. Designed by Lievore Altherr Molina in 2006, Zoe has no supporting frame at all: a 100% Twill cotton cover with separate chambers filled with polystyrene pearls. La Mercanti puts that sentence in front of the client before the order, not after.

Technical information based on data declared by the manufacturer.

Collection: Zoe, lounge armchairs and seating
Manufacturer: Verzelloni
Design: Lievore Altherr Molina, 2006
Declared tolerance: ±5% of filling volume between one armchair and another
Filling: expanded polystyrene pearls
Framework: built with no supporting frame
Cover: 100% Twill cotton, separate chambers, 100% Twill cotton tapes
Chambers: 6 in the Chaise Longue · 5 in XL, Large and Small · 3 in the Baby
Each chamber: zip with a safety pocket
Sizes: XL 133 × 120 · Large 108 × 120 · Small 88 × 120 · Baby 75 × 81 · Chaise Longue 108 × 170 cm (42.5 × 66.9 in)
Heights: 72 cm (28.3 in) (Baby 49); seat 36 cm (14.2 in) (Baby 25)
Cover finishes: Visible Seams · Classical Stitching · Punto Cavallo (up charge)
Leather: supplied as standard with Visible Seams only
Manufacturer's note: lightweight fabrics not recommended; sizes are approximate
Outdoor version: available for Zoe
Zoe More: self-supporting polyurethane structure with Ball type polyester fibre and Rhombo-fill®
Tables: Argo and Blog

La Mercanti Srl — trusted supplier for design and contract projects since 1997.
San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy · +39 0735 753833 · info@lamercanti.com
Supply, quotations, specifications and project support across the UK and worldwide.

Documents and Catalogues

Verzelloni Catalogue Zoe Catalogue Zoe More Catalogue Zoe Technical Datasheet

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FAQ

Why does the manufacturer declare a tolerance at all?
Because expanded polystyrene does not assure a constant density. Rather than pretend otherwise, Verzelloni states that a ±5% variance in filling volume between one armchair and another should be considered acceptable.
Will two armchairs ordered together look different?
They will be closely matched but not mechanically identical, and that is inherent to a seat shaped by filling rather than by a frame. For a project with several pieces it is worth knowing before delivery rather than after.
Can the filling be topped up?
Yes. The pearls may lose a little volume with use, which the manufacturer describes as normal, and the original volume can be restored by adding new pearls to one or more chambers.
Are the published dimensions exact?
They are approximate, and the datasheet says so: the piece is built with mobile material, so sizes are indicative rather than machined. Plan circulation with that in mind.
Does the same tolerance apply to Zoe More?
Zoe More is built differently — a self-supporting polyurethane structure with Ball type polyester fibre and Rhombo-fill® — so its behaviour is not the same. The two are presented as complementary, not interchangeable.

How to specify a filled seat for a contract project

Five steps when the shape comes from filling rather than from a frame.

Read the tolerance line first
±5% of filling volume is declared. Put it in front of the client at the specification stage.
Set expectations across multiple pieces
Several armchairs in one room will be siblings, not clones. That is the material speaking.
Plan the top-up
Pearls can be added to one or more chambers to restore the original volume.
Treat the sizes as approximate
Mobile material means indicative dimensions. Leave circulation margin on the plan.
Compare Zoe with Zoe More
Two constructions, two comforts. La Mercanti arranges both to be tried side by side.

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