Charlotte Perriand pinewood coffee table, France, late 1960s

Name: Charlotte Perriand pinewood coffee table, France, late 1960s
Brand: Charlotte Perriand
Price: 9745.7 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Low pinewood coffee table, French craftsmanship from the late 1960s, designed by Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs 1600 ski station residence. This table features geometric lines, a perfect circle supported by four cylinders. It encapsulates the essence of Charlotte Perriand's style, a pivotal figure in 20th-century design who asserted her unique aesthetic vision. From the beginning of her career, she stood out in a predominantly male field. Unfortunately, few women have received the recognition they deserve in the history of design, often overshadowed by their male counterparts, especially in the early 20th century. Born in 1903 in the luminous Paris of the Belle Epoque, Perriand's career took off after her studies and some early works that garnered attention, leading to collaborations with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Her successful projects with these designers laid the groundwork for her subsequent professional and personal emancipation. Perriand broke away from the norms of her time, both as a woman and as a designer. She was lively, curious, and possessed an enviable tenacity that led her on numerous travels and continuous experimentation. She made elegantly anarchic statements, such as shaving her head and wearing jewelry she created from ball bearings and other mechanical components. Perriand traveled to Germany and the Soviet Union, visited Japan during tumultuous historical times, and was stranded there due to the country's entry into the war with the United States. Only after a series of complex circumstances did she manage to return to France. From these personal experiences and her observations of cosmopolitan realities, Perriand drew inspiration for her work. Eastern influences, Bauhaus elements, and her deep human and emotional connection to mountain landscapes converge in her creations. Each piece of furniture she designed reflects a unique sensitivity. Examining the presented table, one can discern industrial suggestions in its form—round like a mechanism's wheel—an Eastern influence in its proportions, fitting perfectly on a floor mat, and the enchantment of the mountains in the simplicity of its construction and the proud modesty of its materials. Few objects like this can still communicate so familiarly and effectively with contemporary audiences. The table has been carefully restored to preserve its original finish and authenticity. Dimensions: 101 cm diameter x 33 cm height.

Creator:

Charlotte Perriand (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 13 in (33 cm)Diameter: 39.77 in (101 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Pine

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1967

Condition:

Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Chiavari, IT

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU6764239745062

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Shop All Charlotte Perriand

Charlotte Perriand

A pioneer of modernism in France, Charlotte Perriand was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design and architecture. In her long career, Perriand’s aesthetic grammar constantly evolved, moving from the tubular steel furniture of the Machine Age to a lyrical naturalism that is reflected in her enduring designs for chairs, sconces, daybeds and other works.

Perriand’s studies at the Ecole de L'Union Centrale de Arts Decoratifs left her enthralled by Charles-Édouard "Le Corbusier" Jeanneret and his vision of a new, rational architecture. In 1924, she joined his studio to design furniture along with Pierre Jeanneret, Corbu’s partner and cousin.

Together, they devised some of the finest examples of early modernist furniture, including two icons of the era: the B306 chaise — later renamed the LC4 — with its swooping frame and hide upholstery; and the chunky, steel-framed Grand Confort club chair. Both pieces were part of the LC line, which saw the trio of designers carrying out bold experiments with tubular chromed steel, just as architect and Bauhaus faculty member Marcel Breuer had executed with his cantilever Cesca chair around the same time. (Furniture created by Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret was originally produced by Austrian manufacturer Thonet but Italian firm Cassina acquired the production and sales rights to their works in 1964.)

Collaborative design produced another Perriand triumph: in the early 1950s, she and Jean Prouvé were engaged to produce desks, worktables and bookcases for the University of Paris. The bookcases — slim pine shelves with brightly painted aluminum dividers — are minimalist mid-century masterpieces.

By the end of that decade, Perriand’s aesthetic had changed completely from the earliest days of her career. She produced a series of furniture in ebonized wood: chairs with gentle S-curve legs, front and back; tables with elliptical tops. In the 1960s, Perriand pushed the boundaries of prefab to produce high-quality housing and furnishings at low cost for the French ski resort Les Arcs. She also adopted an almost rustic look at the time, designing simple chairs with dowel-cut frames and rush seats.

Everything in Perriand’s oeuvre is beautiful, whether it’s the centerpiece of a décor or an accent, and her work is in every great design collection, public and private.

The vintage Charlotte Perriand furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes stools, coffee tables, case pieces, lighting and more.