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Charlotte Perriand

French, 1903-1999

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.

Average Sold Price
$3,550
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Charlotte Perriand
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Cp 1 Wall Lights
Cp 1 Wall Lights
Charlotte Perriand Berger Stool
Charlotte Perriand Berger Stool
Lc4 Chaise Longue
Lc4 Chaise Longue
Lc3 Grand Confort Chair
Lc3 Grand Confort Chair
Charlotte Perriand Meribel Wood Stool by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Stool model Meribel designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953-61. Oak stained black. Relaunched by Cassina in 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Reclaiming simple materials ...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand Berger Wood Stool by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Stool model Berger designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953-61. Relaunched by Cassina in 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Reclaiming simple materials and basic shapes, with an eye to architecture and mountain life, led to the creation of two historic design low table-stools inspired respectively by the milking stool used by mountain shepherds in the French town much loved by the author. Placed individually or in lively arrangements, the two low tables bring the pleasing lightness of solid wood to indoor settings emphasized by the continuity of the grain between the top and the edges and the countless natural variations in the wood. Each piece is made of unique solid wood, so every piece will be different from one another and not exactly as the one on the photos. Both pieces are inspired by the mountains. While the latter takes its name from the milking-stool used by alpine shepherds, the former is inspired by the French locality much loved by designer and architect Charlotte Perriand. These furnishing accessories stand out for the honesty of their simple shapes and for the concrete expression of their materials and function. The turned seat meets the stylised legs both in the Tabouret...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand 'Applique Cylindrique Longue' Wall Lamp in White
By Nemo Lighting 1, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Glendale, CA
Charlotte Perriand 'Applique Cylindrique Longue' wall lamp in white. Perriand's iconic 'Applique Cylindrique' features a unique pivoting shade th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand 'Applique Cylindrique Petite' Wall Lamp in White
By Nemo Lighting 1, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Glendale, CA
Charlotte Perriand 'applique cylindrique petite' wall lamp in white. Perriand's iconic 'Applique Cylindrique' features a unique pivoting shade th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand Berger Wood Stool by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Stool model Berger designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953-61. Relaunched by Cassina in 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Reclaiming simple materials and basic shapes, with an eye to architecture and mountain life...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand Modernist Luggage Rack, Tubular Steel, Les Arcs, France, 1950
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Labrit, Landes
Luggage rack made by Charlotte Perriand, circa 1968 for the ski resort Les Arcs. Support formed by wooden slats, resting on a chromed metal structure. Lot 2 Shipping: 64/51/41 ...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Chrome

Charlotte Perriand 'Applique À Volet Pivotant' Wall Light in Black for Nemo
By Nemo Lighting 1, Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Glendale, CA
Charlotte Perriand 'Applique à Volet Pivotant' wall light in black for Nemo. Originally designed in the 1950s as the iconic CP1, these newly produced authorized re-editions are s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Pair of Charlotte Perriand 'Applique À Volet Pivotant' Wall Lights in White
By Nemo Lighting 1, Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Charlotte Perriand 'Applique à Volet Pivotant' wall lights in white. Originally designed in the 1950s as the iconic CP1, these newly produced authorized re-editions are s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Charlotte Perriand

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Browse all Furniture from Charlotte Perriand
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Creators Similar to Charlotte Perriand

More Charlotte Perriand Designs
Cp 1 Wall Lights
Cp 1 Wall Lights
Average Price
$1,796
Number Available
47
Cp 1 Wall Lights
By Charlotte Perriand
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Styles
Mid Century Modern
French architect Charlotte Perriand (1903–99) was an inimitable trailblazer in the field of design, defining modern living in the 20th century through her pursuit of functionality. The sleek CP-1 wall lamps she created in the 1960s represent her belief that design wasn’t meant to produce merely decorative objects, but objects that responded to the needs of the user most practically and efficiently. In the 1920s, design was plagued with sexism (the landscape has since improved, but there is s...
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Charlotte Perriand Berger Stool
Charlotte Perriand Berger Stool
Average Price
$16,203
Number Available
12
Charlotte Perriand Berger Stool
By Charlotte Perriand
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Lc4 Chaise Longue
Lc4 Chaise Longue
Average Price
$4,789
Number Available
9
Lc4 Chaise Longue
By Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret
Materials
Animal Skin, Metal, Leather, Cowhide, Steel, Chrome
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Modern
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, the Swiss-born designer and architect known as Le Corbusier (1887–1965), famously described the houses he designed as machines to live in. It is only fitting then that he would furnish each home with its own machines built to meet specific needs. Designed in 1928, the LC4 chaise longue is a “relaxing machine,” according to Le Corbusier, its curves mimicking those of a lounging body. Part of his first-ever collection of furniture, made in collaboration with designer ...
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Lc3 Grand Confort Chair
Lc3 Grand Confort Chair
Average Price
$13,724
Number Available
9
Lc3 Grand Confort Chair
By Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret
Materials
Metal, Animal Skin, Leather, Chrome
Styles
Bauhaus
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Charlotte Perriand furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Charlotte Perriand furniture 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 Charlotte Perriand furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 414 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 238 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Charlotte Perriand were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Guillerme et Chambron, Zanotta, and Gio Ponti. Prices for Charlotte Perriand furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $154 and can go as high as $266,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,985.
Questions About Charlotte Perriand
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    Charlotte Perriand made a variety of chairs, stools, coffee tables, case pieces, lighting and other types of furniture. Some of her most notable works include the B306 chaise, later renamed the LC4, and the chunky, steel-framed Grand Confort club chair, both of which she designed collaboratively with Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier. She is also known for producing an acclaimed series of furniture in ebonized wood. Explore a wide range of Charlotte Perriand furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    Charlotte Perriand is known for being a pioneer of modernism in France. She 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. Explore a diverse assortment of Charlotte Perriand furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Charlotte Perriand, say "Shar-LOAT PAIR-ee-uh." Her surname is French, and in that language "and" represents a sound somewhere between "uh" and "ah," rather than rhyming with land and sand and it does in English. You'll find a collection of Charlotte Perriand furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Charlotte Perriand worked in the studio of the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. She frequently collaborated with fellow designer Pierre Jeanneret. Together, they created two legendary modern furniture designs: the B306 chaise and the Grand Confort club chair. Shop a range of Charlotte Perriand furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    Charlotte Perriand was part of the modern design movement. Many people consider her to be a pioneer of modernism in France and 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. Find a selection of Charlotte Perriand furniture on 1stDibs.

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