Design duo Garouste and Bonetti is best known for concocting Surrealist, avant-garde, romantic furniture and lighting that merge whimsy and wonder with luxury and sophistication.
Born in Paris in 1946, Élizabeth Garouste studied interior design at the École Camondo and worked as a theater set designer before meeting Mattia Bonetti in the late 1970s. Bonetti, born in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1952, attended Lugano’s Centro Scolastico per L’Industria Artistica, where he studied textile design and got into photography.
Their first collaboration came in 1981, after Garouste’s husband, interior designer Gérard Garouste, asked them both to produce designs for the Paris restaurant Le Privilège. They devised a collection of Art Brut–inspired furniture called Barbare, which debuted at the Jansen House of Interior Design, earning them the nickname Les Nouveaux Barbares (the New Barbarians).
Garouste and Bonetti achieved international acclaim in 1987 when French couturier Christian Lacroix hired them to design for his maisons de couture in Paris and London. Instead of the staid decor used by other haute couture houses, Garouste and Bonetti’s furnishings were rebellious and daring. As described in Architectural Digest, “rooms and carpets were acrid ochers, edged with black baroque swirls Louis XVI-inspired chairs upholstered in fruit tones. Tree stump stools topped with ivory tufted cushions. White curtains were trimmed with black polka dots the size of pancakes.”
Following their success with Lacroix, Garouste and Bonetti designed interiors for illustrious clients such as German socialite Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and Bernard Picasso, a French art collector and grandson of Pablo Picasso.
Throughout the late 1980s and ’90s, Garouste and Bonetti designed several modern pieces such as rainbow-colored console tables, the wavy, high-backed Koala sofa, ceramic tableware, table lamps and decorative objects. In 2002, the duo parted ways.
Bonetti continues to create furniture, finding inspiration in everything from ancient Greece to children’s toys to UFOs. His works have been shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Garouste also continues to design and is inspired by the natural world for her “quirky pieces,” Élisabeth Delacarte, owner of the Paris gallery Avant-Scène, says of her designs: “You feel like you’re in a dream rather than in reality. She very much has her own universe.”
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Garouste and Bonetti tables, seating and serveware.
Garouste & Bonetti style , Wrought Iron Chair
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Miami, FL
In the style of Garouste & Bonetti , wrought iron chair.
Brass, Wrought Iron
Garouste & Bonetti Chairs, rare set of 6 forged by Diego Giacometti's ironworker
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Encino, CA
Garouste et Bonetti Extremely rare set of six chairs from the couple of designers, Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Ironwork made by Pierre Basse (...
Iron
Garouste & Bonetti Concerto chairs sycamore bronze alpaca velvet 1990
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
Set of six Concerto chairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti designed and produced in the early 1990s by BGH Edition. This model perfectly embodies the duo’s distinctive vocabul...
Bronze
Vintage Woodard Style Outdoor Wrought Iron Arm Chairs- Set of 4
Located in Wilmington, DE
Offered is a Set of 4 Vintage Woodard Style Outdoor Wrought Iron Arm Chairs. These classic patio chairs feature black metal mesh construction with decorative floral detailing across the backs and elegant curved arms. The chairs have a timeless mid-century garden look and have been repainted black. Ready-to-use condition. The chairs are not signed, but have the look and style of vintage Woodard outdoor furniture...
Metal, Wrought Iron
Set of Six Rare Brass Dining Side Chairs
By Maison Baguès
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of rare design brass chairs. Low profile HEAVY brass dining chairs.
Brass
Rare Sculptural Chair in Alpaca, Italy, 1970s / 80s
By Olivier Mourgue, Eero Saarinen, Mario Bellini, Joe Colombo
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A curved scultptural lounge chairs, Italian, 1970s/80s. Newly upholstered in a premium pure Alpaca fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Mohair, Wood
$2,850
H 31.5 in W 26 in D 19 in
Elegant Gilt Metal Lounge Chair Style of Garouste Bonetti Post Modern Art Deco
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Gilt Metal Lounge Chair, in the style of Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, unsigned, France, circa 1980s.
Metal
Stool by Garouste & Bonetti Model Koala, France / C.1990
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Montréal, QC
Koala Stool by Garouste & Bonetti , C.1990 Bronze feet and freshly reupholstered in beige Pierre Frey Ramier fabric. Early version, No stamp on legs.
Bronze
$3,250 / set
H 42 in W 17 in D 18 in
Pair of Sculptural Post Modern Arm Chairs After Garouste and Bonetti, 1990s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Sculptural Post Modern Arm Chairs After Garouste and Bonetti, 1990s Pair of decorative, post modern, sculptural, patinated metal arm chairs in the manner of Garouste and Bon...
Metal
$1,650 / set
H 35.75 in W 14 in D 17 in
Set of Four Sculptural Dining Chairs in the Manner of Diego Giacometti
By Diego Giacometti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of four sculptural iron dining chairs, in the manner of Diego Giacometti, circa 1970s. Recently repainted and reupholstered.
Iron
SACHA CHAIR - Modern Chic Velvet Chair
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
The Sacha Chair is a chic and sophisticated piece of furniture that features sculptured channeled velvet to create a unique and stunning silhouette. Its...
Upholstery
$470Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.37 in W 20.08 in D 20.87 in
Postmodern Design Chair by Pierantonio Bonacina, Italy, 1990's
By Pierantonio Bonacina
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Postmodern Modern Italian Design dining chair by Pierantonio Bonacina, made in Italy 1990's. Steer head bend bentwood pressed wood back wit...
Metal, Chrome
$8,829 / set
H 33.86 in W 15.75 in D 16.15 in
Rare Set of Six Campanino Chiavari Walnut Chairs by Fratelli Levaggi, 1950
By Fratelli Levaggi/Guiseppe Gaetano Descalzi, Fratelli Levaggi
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful set of six Italian chairs in walnut wood, model "Campanino" by Fratelli Levaggi from the early 1950s, in Chiavari. These chairs were originally designed in 1807 by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi. Extraordinary light and strong, these chairs were Ignazio Gardella and Franco Albini favorites for their interior design projects in the 1950s and 1960s. Fully restored and reupholstered with a rich Italian Jacquard fabric from Dedar Milano - Reference Twist again...
Wood
Louis XIII Style Walnut Leather Library Chair or Throne Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Imposing 19th century French Louis XIII style library chair or throne chair crafted from walnut. The grand chair features a square flat back and generous square seat which are both d...
Brass
$4,124 / set
H 33.86 in W 18.31 in D 16.74 in
Rare Set of 6 Michel Dufet 'Duffet' Dining Chairs, 1950s, France
By Michel Duffet, Michel Dufet
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare set of 6 original Michel Dufet (Duffet) dining chairs dating from the 1950s. In good original vintage condition, some signs of use and wear to the wood, including minor losses...
Wood
Sold
H 36.82 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
A Set Of Four Chairs by Elisabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti France 1990's
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in HYÈRES, FR
A set of four chairs by Garouste & Bonetti. France 1990s Editor : Ligne Roset ( signed ) Colours : 2 Yellow, 1 Red and 1 Salmon Color In original good condition, small trace of d...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 35.83 in W 20.08 in D 19.3 in
Set of 8 Garouste & Bonetti ‘Jour et Nuit ’ Bronze Dining Chairs, 1991
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a rare set of eight dining chairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, model Jour et Nuit, made in solid steel and bronze. Garouste & Bonetti b...
Bronze, Steel
Sold
H 34.65 in W 17.72 in D 20.87 in
Rare Set of Four Garouste & Bonetti ‘Palace’ Dining Chairs, 1980
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, Élizabeth Garouste, Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
This is an incredibly rare set of 4 dining chairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, model Palace, made in white cream painted solid oak. Garouste & Bonetti began their collabor...
Metal
Sold
H 34.65 in W 17.72 in D 20.87 in
Extremely Rare Set of 10 Garouste & Bonetti ‘Palace’ Dining Chairs, 1980
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
This is an incredibly rare set of 10 dining chairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, model Palace, made in white cream painted solid oak. Garouste & Bonetti began their collabo...
Fabric, Wood
Unique, Set of 15, Garouste & Bonetti ‘Palace’ Dining Chairs, 1980
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
This is an incredibly rare set of 15 dining chairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, model Palace, made in white cream painted solid oak....
Fabric, Oak
Club Chair by Garouste & Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in NYC, NY
A club chair designed by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti with a curvaceous Silhouette upholstered in a red velvet sitting on tapered wood legs. The chair was designed for an ...
Velvet, Wood
Nuit chairs by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Two pairs (4 items) of chairs designed by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Brass half moon on the back