The chairs of French designers reflect the excellence of French design. Their iconic creations combine functionality, aesthetics, and innovation, and are part of the history of furniture. Many of their designs are still very popular on the auction market today and fetch impressive prices. Here are the five French chair designers you should know:
Pierre Chapo
Pierre Chapo initially aimed to pursue painting, but in 1947, he encountered a maritime carpenter, which sparked his interest in the material that would come to define his design practice: wood. Following his studies, interspersed with trips to Scandinavia and military service, Chapo continued to work with wood, particularly oak, ash, and solid elm. He combined traditional craftsmanship with a keen eye for contemporary design to create his first pieces, which quickly led him to establish a workshop in Paris. His S11 chairs are known for their clever construction, crafted without the need for nails or screws, offering visual appeal from every angle of the structure.
See also: 10 Ingenious Chairs: Design Classics of the 20th Century
Influenced by master architects, Chapo exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1967 and won the Bronze Medal from the Society for the Encouragement of Art and Industry.
See also: The Story of 'Dragons': The World's Priciest Chair
Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé's 'demountable' chair was his response to traditional office seating and was followed by several variations. It appears stable and solid while remaining straightforward. The design takes into account human anatomy: the rear legs are thickened to support more of the seated person's weight, while the rear joint is reinforced to prevent deformations from the weight of the torso and any potential movement.
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"In my mind, a chair had to be light," Prouvé said. "A chair always breaks at the rear joint between the legs and the seat. This is the reason why all my furniture has shapes of equal resistance." Certain manufacturing elements have remained visible, such as the bolts securing the backrest and the seat.
See also: 11 Eccentric Designs to Rest On
Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand
It is impossible to imagine French design without the masters Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand. Le Corbusier and Perriand designed iconic chairs in 1928 together, including the Chaise Lounge LC4 and the Grand Confort LC3, which were intended for use in Le Corbusier's Maison La Roche in Paris.
See also: Pierre Jeanneret: The ‘Other Jeanneret’
The LC4 has a wooden base and a tubular steel frame for the seat and back. Metal fixings are used to attach the headrest to the structure, as well as the base. The chair was designed to be covered in cowhide.
See also: Le Corbusier: 5 Facts to Know
Charlotte Perriand also had a flourishing career with her storage furniture, stools, and deck chairs. Her approach to design was also influenced by her travels, notably to Japan, where she stayed between autumn 1940 and winter 1942, which resulted in a minimalist, simple aesthetic.
See also: Charlotte Perriand: A Creative Life Remembered
Joseph-André Motte
Joseph-André Motte became known with his 'tripod' armchair from 1949, characterised by its shell-shaped seat. In 1954, he co-founded the Atelier de Recherche Plastique (ARP) with Pierre Guariche and Michel Mortier to create furniture that combined the classic ideals while remaining simple and accessible to the general public.
See also: The Design Classics of the Future
At the request of the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) in 1973, Joseph-André Motte revolutionised the layout of Paris metro stations. His innovative style is distinguished by the use of white tiles, benches, and lines of coloured lighting along the platforms. He notably designed the seat that has become emblematic of the Paris metro, the individual shell seat, which is still present in many Paris metro and RER stations today.