Pierre Guariche, Rare Airborne Sofa
View Similar Items
Pierre Guariche, Rare Airborne Sofa
About the Item
- Creator:Pierre Guariche (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 85.5 in (217.17 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. New Linen and Latex Foam.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: A08741stDibs: LU908622785052
Pierre Guariche
The architect Pierre Guariche was one of the leading modern furniture and lighting designers of postwar France. Guariche can, in some ways, be thought of as the French version of Charles Eames: with his lean and angular chairs and slender, sculptural table lamps, he helped introduce a new aesthetic to the country’s interiors — and he was an eager pioneer in the use of new industrial materials and production techniques that emerged in the 1950s.
Guariche studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (the national design academy) under René Gabriel — a designer known for his quality, mass-produced furnishings, who served as a director of the postwar Ministry of Reconstruction. Two years after graduating in 1949, Guariche opened his own design firm, and he was soon creating pieces for numerous companies, including the lighting manufacturer Disderot.
Wood and metal were rationed in the years following the war and Guariche learned to do more with less. His chairs of the early 1950s include several designs with narrow, softly angular wooden frames; others, like the Tonneau chair, feature a single piece of molded plywood set atop metal legs. His lamps of the period are likely his best-known works. They include delicate compositions of slender steel tubes, and more flamboyant pieces such as the Kite lamp, with its curved metal reflector panel.
Always on the lookout for new materials, Guariche spent several years in the mid-1950s operating a firm making furniture in fiberglass and other plastics, along with Joseph André Motte and others. After 1957 — when Guariche was named head of design for the Belgian company Meurop and given a brief to create stylish, up-to-date chairs and cabinets — he began to look to America for ideas.
In the mid-1960s, Guariche produced several lines of deeply upholstered, rounded lounge chairs inspired by the Space Age look, and gave them names like Jupiter, Polaris and Luna. While Guariche always kept pace with his times, throughout his career he showed a consistent talent for producing elegant, eye-catching forms using a minimum of materials.
Find vintage Pierre Guariche furniture today on 1stDibs.
- Rare Sofa by Greta GrossmanBy Sherman Bertram, Greta Magnusson GrossmanLocated in San Francisco, CARare Sofa by Greta Grossman for The Sherman Bertram Company. USA, 1952 A rare and collectible sofa designed by Greta Grossman. This sofa appeared in the May 1952 edition of the Arts & Architecture magazine. The metal frame is in original vintage condition. The sofa has been fully restored and upholstered in a luxurious ebony suri bouclé Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca fabric from the Sonoma Coast...Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsIron
$25,000 - Rare Jacob Kjaer Sofa with 8 Tapered LegsBy Jacob KjaerLocated in San Francisco, CAAn elegant Jacob Kjaer sofa with 8 legs, tight seat and back restored in a luxurious pale rose Prima Alpaca Fabric from Sandra Jordan.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsWood, Alpaca
- Valentin Loellmann SofaBy Valentin LoellmannLocated in San Francisco, CAA sofa by German furniture designer Valentine Loellmann made in 2015. Completely hand constructed in brass and not cast, with a charred oak seat and b...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
Price Upon Request - Harvey Probber SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in San Francisco, CAA three-seat sofa by Harvey Probber. Curved front. Loose cushions on the seat, back and sides. Sofa sits on 6 wooden feet.Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsWood
$12,000 - Sofa by Ludvig PontoppidanBy Ludvig PontoppidanLocated in San Francisco, CAAn elegant two seat sofa by Danish cabinetmaker Ludvig Pontoppidan. The sofa features curved edges and sloped arms, mahogany legs and upholstered seat, back and sides.Category
Early 20th Century Danish Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany
- Vintage Ole Wanscher Sofa made by Master CraftspersonsBy Ole WanscherLocated in San Francisco, CAA sofa with tight seat and back, of blue shantung upholstery and mahogany legs. Original condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany, Rosewood
- Pierre Guariche, Rare Sofa Bed, France, 1960By Pierre GuaricheLocated in Barcelona, ESPierre Guariche (1926–1995) Rare sofa bed Manufactured by Airbone France, 1960s Steel, upholstery Measurements: 216 cm x 83 cm x 80 H cm 85.04...Category
Vintage 1960s French Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Pierre Guariche “L-10” Sofa for Airborne, France 1950Located in Amsterdam, NLA very rare and large sofa model, L-10, designed by Pierre Guariche and manufactured by Airborne in France around 1950. This eye-catching piece has a black lacquered, tubular metal ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Set of Pierre Guariche Sofa Bed and Pair of Armchairs for Airborne French DesignBy Pierre GuaricheLocated in Lyon, FRRare set of French designer Pierre Guariche for Airborne Sofa and lounge chairs. We can split the set. Freshly re-upholstery.Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Pierre Guariche, Sofa "Miami", Belgium, 1950By Pierre GuaricheLocated in Barcelona, ESPierre Guariche (1926–1995) Sofa model “Miami” Manufactured by Meurop Belgium, 1950s Steel, upholstery Measurements 178 cm x 78 cm x 85 cm 70.08 in. x 30.71 in. x 33.47 in...Category
Vintage 1950s Belgian Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Pierre Guariche Sofa Bed for Airborne French DesignBy Pierre GuaricheLocated in Lyon, FRFrench designer Pierre Guariche. Rare model with golden base Freshly re-upholstery.Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Canapes
MaterialsMetal
- Pierre Guariche for Burov 'Monaco' Sofa in Red Velvet and MahoganyBy Pierre Guariche, BurovLocated in Waalwijk, NLPierre Guariche for Burov, 'Monaco' sofa, velvet, stained mahogany, France, circa 1960 Pierre Guariche (1926-1995), a multi-talented French designer, interior decorator, and architect left an indelible mark on the world of design. His notable contributions include his pioneering work in residential lighting design for Pierre Disderot during the 1950s, which cemented his position as a master of the Craft. However, Guariche's talents extended beyond lighting, as he also made significant innovations in the fields of furniture design and architecture. This design is part of the 'Monaco' series and features pure, sleek forms. The corpus is executed in a delicate, velvet red upholstery. The base is composed of an elongated X-shaped frame executed in mahogany. Truly, a quintessential example of French midcentury...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Mahogany