Arman Chairs

French, 1928-2005

Arman was born in Nice, France, in 1928, and showed a talent for painting and drawing as a child. He studied at the the Ecole Nationale des Art Décoratifs in Nice followed by studies at the École du Louvre in Paris. In his early years he focused on abstract paintings. Then, in 1957, he became interested in common objects as works of art. He first did what came to be called his "allures d"objet" (object impressions), where he would dip an object into paint and press it on canvas thus leaving the object's shadow or impression. Then he decided the object itself was worth paying attention to and started to treat them in his own way. His intention was to remove the material purpose of an object so that its only remaining function was to "feed the mind" as a work of art. What better way to achieve that result than by breaking, slicing or even burning objects such as violins, telephones, typewriters or even whole cars? He also made objects useless by accumulating them, such as 2,000 wristwatches in a Plexiglass box that all kept different time. Once emotionally detached from the circumstances associated with a broken object, the viewer could grow to appreciate its abstract beauty; so, in a sense, Arman was literally teaching that things one never thought could be regarded as attractive could indeed turn out to be so. Through this achievement, Arman gained worldwide recognition and is regarded as one of the most prolific and inventive creators of the late 20th century. His work can be found in the collections of numerous museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Arman’s work has also been exhibited in galleries, museums and public spaces worldwide including the Musée D’Art Contemporain in Tehran, Iran; the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Musée Des Arts Decoratifs and Opéra De Paris in France; the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art in California; and the Museum of Arts and Design and the Guggenheim in New York He died in 2005 in New York.

Creator: Arman

Arman "Cello" Chair, circa 1990, France

$8,500

Arman "Cello" Chair, circa 1990, France

By Hugues Chevalier, Arman

Located in Girona, Spain

Arman "Cello" Chair, circa 1990, France. Arman "Cello" chair editions Hugues Chevalier n°9/50. Signed and numbered under the seat on a brass plate. Made with ebonized beech. Circ...

Category

1990s French Modern Arman Chairs

Materials

Beech

Napoleon III Chair with Turned Beech and Velvet for Child French, circa 1880

$608Sale Price|20% Off

H 29.93 in W 15.56 in D 16.34 in

Napoleon III Chair with Turned Beech and Velvet for Child French, circa 1880

Located in Labrit, Landes

Napoleon III French chair for child late 19th century Turned beech, with patina, The fabric in a good quality. Two marks in the velvet, nothing dist...

Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Arman Chairs

Materials

Beech, Velvet

Antique French Fine Walnut Side Chair, circa 1880

$1,700

H 36 in W 15 in D 16 in

Antique French Fine Walnut Side Chair, circa 1880

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique French fine walnut side chair, circa 1880.

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Arman Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Fine Carved Pair French Louis XVI Style Cameo Back Side Chairs, Circa 1940

$1,480Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 35.5 in W 16 in D 18.25 in

Fine Carved Pair French Louis XVI Style Cameo Back Side Chairs, Circa 1940

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This fine carved pair of French Louis XVI style cameo back side chairs, circa 1940, showcases refined craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Each chair features a beautifully carved be...

Category

1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Arman Chairs

Materials

Beech

Antique French Cathedral Chairs, Handcrafted Walnut, Circa 1800-1830

$4,240Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 45.5 in W 14.5 in D 16.25 in

Antique French Cathedral Chairs, Handcrafted Walnut, Circa 1800-1830

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An antique French pair of cathedral chairs made of hand crafted walnut with centered carved rosettes on the high backrest and bottom front panel of the seat, in good condition. Nice ...

Category

Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Arman Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Midcentury Art Deco Barrel Hall Chairs Side Chairs, France, Circa 1950

$4,755Sale Price / set|40% Off

H 28.35 in W 19.49 in D 18.31 in

Pair of Midcentury Art Deco Barrel Hall Chairs Side Chairs, France, Circa 1950

Located in London, GB

A Pair of Mid Century Art Deco Barrel Chairs. France, Circa 1950. In excellent vintage condition commensurate of age. Please message for an acc...

Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arman Chairs

Materials

Teak

Antique French Carved Wood Gilt Side Chair, circa 1870-1880

$900

H 36.5 in W 16 in D 16.5 in

Antique French Carved Wood Gilt Side Chair, circa 1870-1880

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique French carved wood gilt side chair, circa 1870-1880 FOC061.

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Arman Chairs

Materials

Tapestry

Fine Quality Pair of French Louis XVI Carved Side Chairs, Circa 1940s

$1,560Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 38 in W 18 in D 18 in

Fine Quality Pair of French Louis XVI Carved Side Chairs, Circa 1940s

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This fine quality pair of French Louis XVI carved side chairs, circa 1940s, beautifully captures the neoclassical elegance and refined craftsmanship associated with the Louis XVI per...

Category

1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Arman Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Set of Eight Pascal Mourgue for Artelano Rio Side or Dining Chairs France 1990s

$3,195 / set

H 28.5 in W 19 in D 19.5 in

Set of Eight Pascal Mourgue for Artelano Rio Side or Dining Chairs France 1990s

By Pascal Mourgue

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A set of eight stackable chairs designed by Pascal Mourgue and manufactured by Artelano in Paris in the early 1990s. Simple and understated yet curvy and sexy, the Rio chairs...

Category

1990s French Mid-Century Modern Arman Chairs

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Baby High Chair Beech and Skai Convertible France Midcentury, circa 1960

$1,029Sale Price|20% Off

H 39.38 in W 20.87 in D 24.81 in

Baby High Chair Beech and Skai Convertible France Midcentury, circa 1960

Located in Labrit, Landes

Midcentury French baby high chair made circa 1960. In beech and skai or faux-leather. Convertible from high chair to baby desk (please see two last photos). While it has a practical ...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Arman Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Beech

Vintage 20th Century Salon Chair in Antique French Taste, Giltwood, circa 1970

$1,208

H 36.62 in W 22.05 in D 18.02 in

Vintage 20th Century Salon Chair in Antique French Taste, Giltwood, circa 1970

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a vintage 20th century salon chair in the antique French taste, giltwood dating to circa 1970. Attractive and comfortable salon c...

Category

Mid-20th Century European Louis XIV Arman Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

Three Early 20th Century French Walnut Carved Side Chairs, circa 1900

$950 / set

H 35.5 in W 20 in D 18 in

Three Early 20th Century French Walnut Carved Side Chairs, circa 1900

Located in San Francisco, CA

Three early 20th century French walnut carved side chairs, circa 1900 Classic French walnut side chairs. Each chair is carved from solid waln...

Category

Early 20th Century French French Provincial Arman Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Jacques Adnet Green Leather Chair, Circa 1950s, France

$14,500

H 33.25 in W 17 in D 20 in

Jacques Adnet Green Leather Chair, Circa 1950s, France

By Jacques Adnet

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Rare chair by French architect and Art Deco Modernist designer and icon of luxurious French Modernism, Jacques Adnet, circa 1950s. Upholstered in sumptuous green leather. Brass and l...

Category

1950s French Art Deco Vintage Arman Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Previously Available Items

Cello Chair

Sold

H 33.08 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in

Cello Chair

By Arman

Located in PARIS, FR

Bronze, leather upholstery Fonderie d’art Bocquel, numbered.

Category

1990s French Arman Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Cello Chair

Sold

H 33.08 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in

Cello Chair

By Arman

Located in PARIS, FR

Bronze, leather upholstery Fonderie d’art Bocquel, numbered.

Category

1990s French Arman Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Cello Chair

Sold

H 33.08 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in

Cello Chair

By Arman

Located in PARIS, FR

Bronze, leather upholstery Fonderie d’art Bocquel, numbered.

Category

1990s French Arman Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Unique Creation of Arman, 'CELLO' Chair, Editions Hugues Chevalier

Sold

H 33.86 in W 16.15 in D 16.54 in

Unique Creation of Arman, 'CELLO' Chair, Editions Hugues Chevalier

By Arman

Located in Beirut, LB

Cello chair by Arman Hugues Chevalier editions n ° 2/50. Wood (sycamore and beech), France. Signed under the seat on a brass plate.

Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Arman Chairs

Materials

Wood

Cello Chair by Arman, Number 4/50, Wood, France

Sold

H 33.67 in W 16.34 in D 16.15 in

Cello Chair by Arman, Number 4/50, Wood, France

By Arman

Located in Paris, FR

Cello chair by Arman editions Hugues Chevalier n°4/50. Wood (sycamore and beech), France. Signed under the seat on a brass plate. To our knowledge this i...

Category

Early 2000s French Arman Chairs

Materials

Beech, Sycamore

Arman chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Arman chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arman chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original chairs by Arman were created in the modern style in france during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Pascal Mourgue, André Sornay, and Charles Dudouyt. Prices for Arman chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,642 and can go as high as $8,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,071.

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Questions About Arman Chairs

Where did Arman Fernandez work?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Arman Fernandez worked at the Bushido Kai Judo Club in Madrid, Spain, and served as a medical orderly for the French Army during the Indo-China War before becoming an artist. You'll find a variety of Arman Fernandez art on 1stDibs.

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