Helicoid Staircase

Roger Tallon was a French Industrial designer. After studying as an engineer (1944–50), Tallon was employed by Caterpillar France and DuPont. In 1953, he joined Technès, the technical and aesthetic studies office founded in 1949 by the father of industrial aesthetics, Jacques Viénot and Jean Parthenay. Being rapidly promoted to the technical and artistic director at the agency, he became the sole director after Viénot's death in 1959. In 1957, he enrolled at the École des Arts Appliqués (School of Applied Arts) in Paris and put in place the first design course in the country. In 1963, he set up the Design Department of the École Nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris. As a consultant for the US company General Electric, Tallon designed refrigerators and washing machines and set up the Design Department of the American company. In 1966, the Téléavia P111 portable television was put on the market against the advice of the Board. It broke the mould of TV design and was a commercial success with a cult following. In 1973, Tallon set up agency Design Programmes. Brother-in-arms with the LIP watchmakers, he created the Mach 2000 brand of watches and chronometers. In 1974, with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, he created a concept aircraft cabin for Air France. After leaving Euro RSCG, he continued to work independently. Tallon died on 20th October 2011, after a long period of sickness.

While they’re best known for their functionality, a well-designed set of vintage, new or antique stairs can also make as much of an impact in your space as any other piece of well cared for furniture.

From mid-century modern stairs to Victorian stairs to Art Nouveau stairs, different movements in design over time saw furniture makers exploring a range of inspirations as well as working with a variety of materials. This is good news for you, as it means that stairs have been designed in a wealth of furniture styles over the years and that there is a perfect set of stairs for every space.

A library ladder, whether it’s going to serve its primary purpose or be used as a home accent, is a common example of interior stairs that help make the most use of vertical space. A set of stairs for your home library is going to allow you to reach those coveted rare volumes from your lofty well-appointed shelves. And because you’ve invested so much time in styling your bookcases or library shelving, why not own an appropriately decorative structure to access your books?

Hand-carved embellishments in post toppers and stair pillars distinguish Victorian-era stairs from other periods. Furniture designed during this time period, which occurred during the reign of Queen Victoria in England, was luxurious. Even furnishings as functional as stairs were made from dark woods such as mahogany or rosewood and boasted ornate curved lines and stately proportions. All those who are fascinated by Art Nouveau furniture know that designers of the period sought freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. Art Nouveau staircases were highly decorative, including striking iron spiral staircases with intricate latticework on the risers and works carved in oak with newel posts that saw an integration of natural world motifs.

No matter how they are incorporated into a home or office, vintage, new and antique stairs can be practical and aesthetically pleasing — the very definition of art meeting functionality. Find yours on 1stDibs today.