Lola Lely’s main task during the making week at Benchmark was to build up the chair on its form from the 13 layers of maple veneer, plus the special top and bottom layers in marquetry. ‘They went together like jigsaws,’ she said.

Allen Jones spent a day in the workshop with her and it was at that point that he decided that the solid head, always present in his original design, was not working. Later he and Lely returned to the problem. ‘We went back to Benchmark on a weekend, with fresh eyes and without the stress of the making week, we spent a few hours drawing up new heads, tearing away, pinching and manipulating various paper heads, she said. ‘The head still looks a bit odd, but in a good way. Allen is really pleased with the results.’