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.
Original 'Koala' Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti Stamped 'BG'
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, Élizabeth Garouste, Mattia Bonetti
Located in PARIS, FR
Iconic 'Koala Sofa' circa 1985 by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti. Stamped 'BG' on one of the sofa's bronze feet. New fabric.
Bronze
$108,008
H 27.96 in W 56.7 in D 29.14 in
Ib Kofod-Larsen Elizabeth Sofa by Christensen & Larsen in Denmark
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare sofa model U56 / Elizabeth designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen. Produced by Christensen & Larsen in Denmark. Queen Elizabeth II purchased a pair of easy chairs in 1958 and since th...
Leather, Rosewood
$53,815
H 31.11 in W 78.35 in D 30.32 in
ORIGINAL RESTORED VINTAGE FRiTZ HANSEN STAMPED PK31 POUL KJÆRHOLM LEATHER SOFA
By Fritz Hansen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this important, one of a kind Fritz Hansen retailed Poul Kjærholm designed PK33-3 fully restored hand dyed brown leather chrome fr...
Steel, Chrome
$11,381
H 29.93 in W 86.62 in D 31.89 in
Sofa in Teak and Original Leather Model 2213 by Børge Mogensen, 1963
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sofa in Teak and Original Leather by Børge Mogensen, 1963 Additional Information: Material: Teak and original leather Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Sofa model 2213 Produced by Fr...
Teak, Leather
$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
$32,749 / set
H 43.71 in W 63.78 in D 32.68 in
Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti Koala Sofa and Armchairs, France, 1980s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Original Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti Koala Suite, France, 1980s Original Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti Koala Suite, France, 1980s. All the pieces require new fabri...
Bronze
$5,167
H 25.2 in W 87.41 in D 33.86 in
Tecno D120 three-seater sofa by Valeria Borsani and Alfredo Bonetti, 1966
By Tecno, Valeria Borsani & Alfredo Bonetti
Located in Premariacco, IT
A stunning and rare Tecno D120 sofa, designed by Valeria Borsani and Alfredo Bonetti for Tecno, conceived in 1966 and produced in the late 1960s and 1970s. A notable example of Ital...
Steel
Maison Jansen Stamped Sofa, Louis XV Style, France
By Maison Jansen
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Rare Maison Jansen stamped French Louis XV style sofa with original grey patina, and clean lined cream upholstery. Lovely classical Louis XV shape, good width, seats three comfortabl...
Wood
$9,770Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.11 in W 68.51 in D 37.8 in
ORIGINAL UNRESTORED GREEN LEATHER MAPLE & CO STAMPED ViCTORIAN BOLSTER ARM SOFA
By Maple & Co.
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original circa 1880-1900 Maple &Co stamped Victorian Bulster arm Regency Green leather sofa ...
Leather
$52,355 / set
H 33.08 in W 29.53 in D 29.14 in
Garouste & Bonetti Koala armchairs bronze alpaca velvet 1995
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a beautiful pair of armchairs by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, model Koala, with solid bronze feet, fully restored and reupholstered. Garouste & Bonetti began ...
Bronze
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.
Bronze
$1,929
H 47.64 in W 22.45 in D 21.66 in
Brutalist forged iron, "Barbare" chair in the manner of Garouste & Mattia, 1980s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Zaandam, NL
Forged iron chair with a hide sling seat and back, laced to the frame with rope. The frame is hand-hammered with visible tool marks and tapered, slightly irregular legs. The two back...
Cowhide
$22,170
H 27.17 in W 90.56 in D 31.5 in
Sofa in Rosewood and Original Brown Leather by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960's
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sofa in Rosewood and Original Brown Leather by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960's Additional Information: Material: Rosewood and original brown leather Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Very rar...
Rosewood, Leather
$1,927
H 47.64 in W 22.45 in D 21.66 in
Brutalist forged iron, "Barbare" chair in the manner of Garouste & Mattia, 1980s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Zaandam, NL
Forged iron chair with a hide sling seat and back, laced to the frame with rope. The frame is hand-hammered with visible tool marks and tapered, slightly irregular legs. The two back...
Cowhide
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
$24,000 / set
H 34 in W 15.75 in D 21 in
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
"Etoile" Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, BGH editions, 1990, France
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
"Etoile" Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, BGH editions, 1990, France
Bronze
"Koala" Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, France, 1990s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
"Koala" sofa by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti, France, 1990s Silver bronze feet, pink upholstery. Artist's stamp.
Bronze
Koala Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, Koala design with bronze feet and red velvet, ready to be reupholstered.
Bronze
Koala Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, Koala design with signed BG bronze feet and grey fabric cover, beautiful wavy back.
Bronze
Mars Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Wide-shape wood sofa upholstered with a grey blue velvet. Quilted fittings. Legs terminating with bronze feet tips. Surmounted with gilt bronze B...
Bronze
Koala Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Salzburg, AT
Famous sofa by Garouste & Bonetti with a wavy back and bronze feet covered with a new turquoise Pierre Frey velvet. Signature on both feet / inside.
Bronze
"Koala" Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
"Koala" sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, "Avant-Scène" edition from the 2000s, signed on the brass feet.
Brass
Mars Sofa by Garouste and Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa model "Mars" by Garouste and Bonetti.
Bronze
Garouste & Bonetti "Concerto" Sofa, France, circa 1990
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Girona, Spain
Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti "Concerto" sofa, Original velvet upholstery, Beech wood, bronze and velvet, France, circa 1990. Good vintage condition.
Bronze
Koala Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Famous sofa by Garouste & Bonetti with a wavy back and bronze feet covered with an orange velvet fabric.
Koala sofa by Elizabeth Garouste & Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa by Garouste & Bonetti, Koala design with signed BG bronze feet and alcantara cover, beautiful and rare wavy back
Koala Meridienne by Garouste and Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Nice koala meridienne designed by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti in the 1980s, two bronze feet signed "BG", Ed. Neotu.
Koala sofa by Elizabeth Garouste et Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Famous Koala sofa with bronze feet signed "BG", original deep red velvet fabric in very good condition
Bronze
Méridienne By Elizabeth Garouste et Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Koala méridienne by Garouste et Bonetti, with a bronze feet signed "BG3
Bronze
Koala Sofa by Elizabeth Garouste et Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Paris, FR
Famous Koala sofa with bronze feet signet "BG", blue original velvet fabric
Bronze