Pierre Jeanneret "Secretariat" Desk from Chandigarh
View Similar Items
Pierre Jeanneret "Secretariat" Desk from Chandigarh
About the Item
- Creator:Pierre Jeanneret (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Width: 48 in (121.92 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1957-1958
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good vintage condition, with age appropriate wear. Leather top replaced at some point.
- Seller Location:Palm Springs, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: F-TB-14-074-11stDibs: LU90853878812
Pierre Jeanneret
If his famed cousin and longtime colleague Charles-Édouard Jeanneret — better known as Le Corbusier — was the visionary, then Pierre Jeanneret was the member of the architecture and design team who got things done. In recent years, Jeanneret has emerged from Le Corbusier’s shadow, as collectors have discovered his simple and striking chairs, benches, coffee tables and other furniture creations.
Jeanneret studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva and after he graduated in 1921 he became a partner in Le Corbusier’s office in Paris. The pair collaborated on numerous residential projects, most notably the Villa Savoye, the iconic modernist house in suburban Paris completed in 1931.
Jeanneret also worked with the great Charlotte Perriand on the Grand Modele line of tubular metal furnishings that was a sensation at the annual Salon d’Automne design expo in 1929. A rift developed between Jeanneret and his cousin during World War II, as the former joined the French resistance, while Le Corbusier cooperated with the occupying authorities in Vichy. The two did not work together again until 1950, when Le Corbusier persuaded Jeanneret to help execute the master plan for the new city of Chandigarh in Punjab, India. Jeanneret lived and worked there until the final years of his life.
A hallmark of Jeanneret’s furniture designs is his great sensitivity to materials. In contrast to the tubular-steel chairs produced by Marcel Breuer and other members of the Bauhaus, the chromed metal pieces designed by Jeanneret and Perriand — including such as the now-classic LC4 chaise longue and the Grand Confort lounge chair — have a sensuous, relaxed and welcoming look. Conversely, while Jeanneret uses essentially geometric forms for his wooden seating pieces, they exude warmth by nature of the material.
One of Jeanneret’s first manufactured designs in wood is the Model 92 Scissors chair, licensed by Hans and Florence Knoll when they were touring postwar France. But Jeanneret’s finest work in furniture was done in Chandigarh, and these are the pieces that have earned him recent renown.
Crafted of teak, the Chandigarh designs range from low-slung lounge chairs and armchairs with cane seats to desks and tables, most with Jeanneret’s signature drafting compass-shaped legs. Many such pieces on the market today are refurbished, having been found by dealers languishing in scrapyards in India in the late 1990s. Chandigarh is now taking better care of its modernist heritage, making available Jeanneret works all the rarer.
Find authentic vintage Pierre Jeanneret chairs, case pieces, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
- Desk in Cerused Oak by Jay SpectreBy Jay SpectreLocated in Palm Springs, CAWonderful desk in Cerused oak with round drawer pedestal and glass top for Century Furniture. Incredibly versatile piece with great scale. Metal label in drawer reads "Century Jay Sp...Category
20th Century American Streamlined Moderne Desks
MaterialsOak, Glass
- Pair of Early Pierre Paulin F598 "Groovy" Chair for ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Palm Springs, CAA pair of iconic early Pierre Paulin "groovy" chairs, reupholstered in a Maharam woven fabric, with new foam.Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pillows Made from 1950s Vintage FabricLocated in Palm Springs, CANewly made pillows with 1950s vintage printed cotton fabric in a Jacobean pattern in blue, grey and mustard green on an ivory ground. Han...Category
Vintage 1950s American Pillows and Throws
MaterialsFabric, Down, Feathers
$695 / item - Pair of Carved Wood Elephants from "Auntie Mame" with Rosalind RussellLocated in Palm Springs, CAA unique pair of carved wood elephants with bone tusks raised shown with front feet on an integral carved wood plinth. A similar, if not the same, pair appeared in the closing scenes of "Auntie Mame...Category
20th Century Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsBone, Wood
- Bleached Mahogany DresserBy Albert FurnitureLocated in Palm Springs, CAA bleached mahogany dresser on an asian inspired base. Fabulous origianl brass hardware. Good color to wood. Signed "Albert" of She...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Tessellated Stone Box on StandBy Maitland SmithLocated in Palm Springs, CAMailtand Smith tessellated stone veneer box on stand with brass accents. Interior finished in mahogany with Maitland Smith logo. Stand is of tessellated stone veneer as well.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsStone, Brass
- Original Pierre Jeanneret Partners Desk from the Offices of Chandigarh, IndiaBy Pierre JeanneretLocated in Stamford, CTOriginal Pierre Jeanneret 'X' Leg Desk from the Offices of Chandigarh, India Designed by Le Corbusier. Hand-crafted from teakwood, the floati...Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsTeak
- Pierre Jeanneret: X Leg Chandigarh Desk, France/ India c. 1960By Pierre JeanneretLocated in New York, NYPierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) A rare and spectacular four-drawer bureau in teak by Pierre Jeanneret for the civic buildings in Chandigarh, India, designed by Le Corbusier. A stunning...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsAluminum
- Pierre Jeanneret: X Leg Chandigarh Desk, France/ India c. 1960By Pierre JeanneretLocated in New York, NYPierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) A rare and spectacular original four-drawer desk, in solid teak, by Pierre Jeanneret for the civic buildings in Chandigarh, India, designed by Le Corbus...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsAluminum
$28,000 Sale Price20% Off - Pierre Jeanneret X desk with a Model Pj Si 30A Committee Chair, Chandigarh, 60sBy Pierre JeanneretLocated in Highclere, NewburyAn original Pierre Jeanneret X frame teak and leather Administrative Desk from the Civic buildings of Chandigarh, India, matched to a fully upholstered Mod...Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsAluminum
- Pierre Jeanneret Pigeonhole DeskBy Pierre JeanneretLocated in Los Angeles, CAPierre Jeanneret Pigeonhole desk.Category
Vintage 1950s Indian Desks
MaterialsRosewood
$33,000 / item - Pierre Jeanneret Desk, 1950s ChandigarghBy Pierre JeanneretLocated in Los Angeles, CASpectacular pigeonhole desk by Pierre Jeanneret. Made for the Chandigarh project. Used in the administrative buildings in Chindigargh, Sector 1. Angular leg and bookcase back. One of the most iconic pieces of modern design. Taupe leather top. Single pull out drawer on front left. Looks stunning from every angle. Great piece to float in a room. Desk in excellent vintage condition. The last 4 images are original photos of the desk pre-restoration. Armrest clearance is 26.25" Jeanneret Chandigargh Book - Jacques Dworczak...Category
Vintage 1950s Indian Desks
MaterialsTeak, Leather
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Vincent Van Duysen Imbues Minimalism with Warmth
The Antwerp-based designer lends his unique touch to homes, boutiques and offices in Belgium, the United States and Germany, as well as furniture for B&B Italia and Molteni.