Artifort F545 Big Tulip Chair by Pierre Paulin in Original Kvadrat Upholstery
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Pierre Paulin (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 90 in (228.6 cm)Width: 90 in (228.6 cm)Depth: 80 in (203.2 cm)Seat Height: 38 in (96.52 cm)
- Style:Space Age (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2010s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:CULEMBORG, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6829228768812
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: CULEMBORG, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin, M-ChairBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The Tongue chair, the Ribbon chair, the Tulip — to name but a few — all feature in museums such as the MOMA New York and Centre Pompidou Paris. Originally designed in the 1972, his famous F598 Groovy...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Space Age Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort/ ‘t Spectrum SZ10 ’M-Chair’ by Ebbing, Haas & Schudel, 1980sBy 't Spectrum, Artifort, Ton HaasLocated in CULEMBORG, GEThis very rare M-Chair was designed by Hans Ebbing, Ton Haas and Paul Schudel as part of an assignment for the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, The Netherlands, initiated by their teacher ...Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Cappellini Felt Chair by Marc NewsonBy Cappellini, Marc NewsonLocated in CULEMBORG, GEIn 1989, Marc Newson dived into the oeuvre of German artist Joseph Beuys — in particular his works in felt. This sturdy, utilitarian textile was simultaneously structured and pliable...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Set of two Vitra 671 Lounge Chairs by Charles and Ray EamesBy Vitra, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in CULEMBORG, GEFor sale is a lovely set of two iconic Vitra 671 Lounge Chairs, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956. The Eames’ wanted to create a spacious armchair that combines ergonomics — ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Set of Two Gispen 416 Polyester Chairs by Wim Rietveld and Andre CordemeyerBy Gispen, André R. Cordemeyer, Wim RietveldLocated in CULEMBORG, GEListed is a unique set of two model no. 416 armchairs, designed by Wim Rietveld (son of Gerrit Rietveld) and Andre Cordemeyer in 1957. It was the first Dutch polyester armchair ever made out of one piece of molded polyester, reinforced with glass fibers. The polyester seat is supported by a tubular solid metal frame with rubber shock mounts. In the days, this experimental chair...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of 2 Gispen 1407 Armchairs in Vinyl by Wim Rietveld & Andre CordemeyerBy Gispen, Wim RietveldLocated in CULEMBORG, GELaunched in 1954 as an affordable armchair for Dutch homes and a design classic ever since, this 1407 armchair is designed by Wim Rietveld (son of Gerrit Rietveld) and Andre Cordemey...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Lounge chair "F545" "BIG TULIP" by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands 1980sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in DE MEERN, NLSKAI LEATHER LOUNGE CHAIR "F545" BIG TULIP BY PIERRE PAULIN FOR ARTIFORT, NETHERLANDS 1980S Introducing the SKAI Leather Lounge Chair "F545" Big Tulip, a...Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Early Pierre Paulin Big Tulip, Model 'F545', Chairs for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Little Burstead, EssexThis pair of large Tulip chairs by Perre Paulin are in very nice condition, having been totally reupholstered, with the foam and off white boucle fabric adhering to current fire safety...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- 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
- Pair First Edition "Big Tulip" Lounge Chairs F551 by Pierre Paulin Artifort 1959By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in bergen op zoom, NLVery rare pair of the first edition of the "Big Tulip" chair, model F551 Just Married! Designed by French designer Pierre Paulin in 1959 for Artifort, The Netherlands Reuph...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel, Nickel
- Pierre Paulin Lounge chair '' Big Tulip '' Artifort 1960sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Den Haag, NLBeautiful Big Tulip Lounge chair .Pierre Paulin designed this iconic chair in 1965 . for Artifort . Comes in a Red wool upholstery . Star feet . not revolving . Very good seating co...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool
- Vintage Oyster Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s in Kvadrat UpholsteryBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Vorst, BEVintage Oyster armchair model 157 from the 1960s. Completely new upholstery (new foam and Kvadrat fabric). Very comfortable and in very nice conditi...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
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.