Pierre Paulin 446 Pair of Rare Club Chairs for Artifort
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Pierre Paulin (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73 cm)Width: 31.89 in (81 cm)Depth: 30.32 in (77 cm)Seat Height: 16.15 in (41 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1968
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Antwerp, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU933428911972
Pierre Paulin
Pierre Paulin introduced a fresh breeze into French furniture design in the 1960s and ’70s, fostering a sleek new space-age aesthetic. Along with Olivier Mourgue, Paulin developed furnishings with flowing lines and almost surreal naturalistic forms. And his work became such a byword for chic, forward-looking design and emerging technologies that two French presidents commissioned him to create environments in the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Paulin was born in Paris to a family of artists and designers. He initially sought to become a ceramist and sculptor and was studying in the town of Vallauris near the Côte d'Azur — a center for pottery making, where Pablo Picasso spent his postwar summers crafting ceramics — but broke his hand in a fight. He enrolled at the École Camondo, the Paris interior design school. There, Paulin was strongly influenced by the work of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Arne Jacobsen, as was reflected in his early creations for the manufacturer Thonet-France. It was at the Dutch firm Artifort, which he joined in 1958, where Paulin blossomed. In a few years, he produced several of his signature designs based on abstract organic shapes. These include the Butterfly chair (1963), which features a tubular steel frame and slung leather, and a group of striking seating pieces made with steel frames covered in polyurethane foam and tight jersey fabric: the Mushroom (1960), Ribbon (1966) and Tongue (1967) chairs.
In 1971, the Mobilier National — a department of France’s Ministry of Culture in charge of furnishing top-tier government offices and embassies — commissioned Paulin to redesign President Georges Pompidou’s private apartment in the Élysée Palace. In three years, Paulin transformed the staid rooms into futuristic environments with curved, fabric-clad walls and furnishings such as bookcases made from an arrangement of smoked-glass U shapes, flower-like pedestal chairs and pumpkin-esque loungers. Ten years later, the Mobilier National called on Paulin again, this time to furnish the private office of President François Mitterand. Paulin responded with an angular, postmodern take on neoclassical furniture, pieces that looked surprisingly at home in the paneled, Savonnerie-carpeted Louis XVI rooms. As those two Élysée Palace projects show, Paulin furniture works well both in a total decor or when used as a counterpoint to traditional pieces. You will see on 1stDibs that Pierre Paulin’s creations have a unique personality: bright and playful yet sophisticated and suave.
Artifort
The sterling reputation that Artifort enjoys isn’t limited to the innovative upholstery and fluid, organic shapes for which its products are widely known — the legendary Dutch brand’s vintage seating and other furniture is also celebrated for its embodiment of functionality, comfort and quality. These are among the principles that underpin the philosophy toward modern furniture design at Artifort, which has been at the crossroads of furniture and art for over 125 years.
Prior to 1928, the year Artifort officially became a brand, Jules Wagemans had a small upholstery business in Maastricht, the Netherlands. After setting up in 1890, his son, Henricus Wagemans, broadened the scope of the company to include furniture production. By the end of the 1920s, their showroom in Amsterdam had made them a recognizable brand across the Netherlands.
Then named H. Wagemans & Van Tuien, the company changed its name to Artifort after the economic recession. Artifort came from two Latin words meaning “art” and “strong” — a perfect description for the style of each design and the manufacturer’s intention to create sturdy furnishings. Artifort’s reputation for durable armchairs and sofas endures, and vintage editions of this seating are now family heirlooms in many homes.
Artifort became a magnet for high-profile and up-and-coming designers alike. Many furniture designers’ careers began thanks to collaborations with Artifort, such as Dutch industrial and jewelry designer Gijs Bakker and Indonesian-born designer Kho Liang Ie. Also known for designing the interiors at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Kho Liang Ie was an aesthetic consultant at Artifort and used his expertise to turn the company into a world-class brand. Perhaps his largest contribution, however, was attracting the talents of French furniture and interior designer Pierre Paulin and English furniture designer Geoffrey D. Harcourt.
Paulin’s bright and colorful lounge chairs, such as his Orange Slice chair and Mushroom chair, are still central to the Artifort identity. The revered designer not only introduced new construction techniques to Artifort furniture, but contributed fresh materials, Pop art colors and dazzling shapes to the mid-century modern era as a whole, while Harcourt deserves credit for popularizing Artifort internationally and extending their reach into foreign markets.
Another talent boom in the 1990s at Artifort yielded collaborations with Jasper Morrison, Wolfgang Mezger and René Holten. Iranian designer Khodi Feiz was named art director in 2014 and has continued the tradition of recruiting top designers such as Claesson Koivisto Rune, Ilse Crawford and Luca Nichetto.
Find a collection of vintage Artifort lounge chairs, tables and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Antwerp, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Pair of Art Deco Club Chairs, Pine & Leather, Europe, 1960sLocated in Antwerp, BEArt Deco; Pine; leather; club chairs; Europe; 1960s; Pink; Wood; Geometric Shape; Pair of Art Deco pine and leather club chairs made in Europe, 1960s. These chairs are made of a so...Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Coconut Chair by George Nelson for Vitra, 1950sBy George Nelson, VitraLocated in Antwerp, BEIntroducing the Coconut Chair by George Nelson for Vitra, an iconic piece of modern design that combines comfort, elegance, an...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Rattan Easy Chair in the Style of Campana Brothers & Porky Hefer, 2000sBy Porky HeferLocated in Antwerp, BEBird's Nest Easy Chair in rattan, a masterpiece attributed to the visionary designer, Porky Hefer. Drawing inspiration from nature's wisdom, Hefer seamlessly intertwines wabi-sabi pr...Category
Early 2000s Armchairs
MaterialsRattan
- Art Nouveau Carlo and Piero Zen Pair of Armchairs, Fruitwood, Mahogany, 1910By Carlo ZenLocated in Antwerp, BEArt Nouveau, Carlo e Piero Zen, Italy, 1910, Italian design, Art Nouveau pair of armchairs by Carlo and Piero Zen. Remarkable use of mahogany, burgundy leather, and fruitwood inl...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Fruitwood, Mahogany
- Ico Parisi Easy Chairs with Purple Upholstery, 1950sBy Ico ParisiLocated in Antwerp, BEItalian pair of armchairs, by Ico Parisi, purple fabric. Black metal legs which end on brass round feet. 1950s Italian chic lounge chairs which would fit well in an eclectic Hollyw...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass, Steel
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Lounge Chair in Grey Bouclé Wool, Italy, 1960sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Antwerp, BEAfra & Tobia Scarpa lounge chair upholstered in grey bouclé wool, designed in Italy in the 1960s. A rare find in the Italian Scarpa oeuvre. Comfortable lounge chair, in excellent condition. A sturdy yet elegant piece that would fit well in a minimal interior, but also in a more rustic wabi-sabi-inspired interior. Afra and Tobia Scarpa are award-winning postmodern...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
- Pierre Paulin for Artifort Pair of Lounge ChairsBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Waalwijk, NLPierre Paulin for Artifort, pair of armchairs, model '442/3', grey upholstery and steel by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, the Netherlands, 1960s These comfortable chairs shows elegant ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Lounge Chair Oyster by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Hilversum, NLOyster lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort. Shell covered with foam and upholstered in a dark grey De Ploeg fabric. Base made of nickel-plated steel rods. Original condition! ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Orange Slice Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980s, Set of 2By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in ŁÓDŹ, PLThe famous Artifort orange slice chairs by Pierre Paulin. Designed in the 60s and produced in the 80s. Cute and very comfortable chairs. They have chrome metal legs. This gorgeous...Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- "Oyster" Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands 1970sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in DE MEERN, NLArtifort F157 "OYSTER" chair designed by Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) for Artifort in 1970S. Introducing the Oyster Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- "Oyster" Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands, 1970sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in DE MEERN, NLArtifort F157 "Oyster" chair designed by Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) for Artifort in 1970S. Introducing the Oyster lounge chair by Pierre Paulin...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Big Tulip Chair Set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLA set with 2 very comfortable and original Big Tulip lounge chairs. These chairs are designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1965. This low version without head rest is a rare...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
At Château La Coste, Pierre Paulin’s Visionary Home Concept Finally Comes to Life
Now synonymous with 1960s and ’70s French chic, the designer conceived his modular modernist furnishings to change the way we decorate.
Exploring Our Current Obsession with Sixties Style
A new exhibition in Philadelphia stars a complex decade that continues to inspire.