German designer and artist Hans Hopfer had a profound impact on furniture design that still guides the choices we make about our spaces today. Affectionately dubbed “seating landscapes,” Hopfer’s forward-looking collections of inviting, modular low-profile seating, such as the widely revered Mah Jong sofa for Roche Bobois, allowed for optimal customized arrangements in one’s living room, an innovation that reshaped relaxation at home in a significant and lasting way.
Hopfer designed modern furniture for a manufacturer in Nuremberg during the 1960s. He met Phillippe Roche in 1970 and began his collaboration with the Roche Bobois company. When the popularity of cable television took hold in more major American cities during the 1970s, sofas and other seating became integral to contemporary living-room decor. Roche Bobois’s newly launched Les Contemporains series positioned its own sofas front and center, and it also offered plush lounge chairs designed by Mario Bellini.
Bold works from Roche Bobois during the decade included one of its most enduring and well-known pieces — the Mah Jong sectional sofa created by Hopfer in 1971. Anchored by few central elements, this modular lounge sofa can be combined or stacked, giving the buyer total freedom over its appearance and the ability to maximize comfort with its plump cushions. Inspired by a tile-based game that originated in China, the Mah Jong has been in production since its debut. It is still handmade in a workshop in Italy today.
Composed of low seating elements and large cushions, Hopfer’s Mah Jong sofa has seen some high-profile fabric updates by Missoni, Jean Paul Gaultier and Japanese clothing designer Kenzo Takada, who worked with Roche Bobois to craft fabrics emblazoned with geometrically dynamic patterns to be used as upholstery for the firm’s iconic piece of furniture.
Primarily a sculptor and painter by trade, Hopfer worked and lived between Buenos Aires, Nuremberg and Paris. In addition to the work he did for Roche Bobois — which included his Informel armchairs and sofas — he also created modular furniture for the Wiener Werkstatte, a collective of artists and designers born from the Vienna Secession art movement in Austria during the early 20th century.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Hans Hopfer lounge chairs, armchairs and sofas.
Informel Chair by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. We have another available in different condition if interested. Made in France. Quilted cotton with foam structure. Extremely rare in USA. Cotton cover zips off for easy cl...
Cotton
$4,000 / set
H 27.56 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Hans Hopfer 'Mah Jong' Sectional Sofa Lounge Chair by Roche Bobois, France 1990s
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Wien, AT
Designed by Hans Hopfer in 1971 for Roche Bobois, the Mah Jong sofa remains one of the most influential and recognizable seating systems of the 20th century. Conceived as a collectio...
Fabric
$26,476 / set
H 6.7 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Mah Jong sofa in ‘Kenzo Takada’ fabric by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois France
By Roche Bobois
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Very nice Mah Jong modular sofa with the original and colorfull ‘Kenzo Takada’ fabric! Designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois France. In the 1970s Hans Hopfer created the Mah Jong...
Fabric
$10,946Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 26.38 in W 118.12 in D 78.75 in
ROCHE BOBOIS 11 PiECE KENZO MAH JONG BY HANS HOPFER CORNER MODULAR SOFA SET
By Roche Bobois
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this collectable Roche Bobois 11 Piece Kenzo Mah Jong Corner sofa set by Hans Hopfer Please note the deliv...
Upholstery
Mah Jong by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois 1st Edition Sofa
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and iconic 1st edition circa 1971 Mah Jong modular sectional sofa consisting of ten element pillows. The sofa was designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois in this avant-garde de...
Fabric, Foam
$25,000 / set
H 20 in W 226 in D 76 in
Mah Jong Kenzo Missoni Sectional Sofa Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois, Missoni, Kenzo Takada
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A rare and iconic 20th century 'Mah Jong' modular sectional sofa designed in 1971 by Hans Hopfer (Germany b. 1931) for Roche Bobois. The sofa is finished in an incredible blend of Ke...
Fabric, Cotton, Foam
$24,000 / set
H 21.5 in W 114 in D 78 in
Mah Jong Sofa Missoni Fabrics by Hans Hopfer Roche Bobois 21st C
By Hans Hopfer, Missoni, Roche Bobois
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A rare and iconic 21st century Roche Bobois 'Mah Jong' modular sectional sofa designed in 1971 by Hans Hopfer (Germany b. 1931). The sofa is a "Composition Missoni" featuring dramati...
Fabric, Foam
Mah Jong sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer
Located in Marseille, FR
Mah Jong sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, 1970s, entirely reupholstered by Relax Factory workshop in Marseille, France, in a beautiful Limon linen Pierre Frey fabric. Excellent...
Linen
Mah Jong sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Marseille, FR
Mah Jong sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, 1970s, entirely reupholstered by Relax Factory workshop in Marseille, France, in a beautiful Limon linen Pierre Frey fabric. Excellent...
Linen
$38,500
H 31.5 in W 154.73 in D 53.15 in
Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobios Post-Modern Croissant Sofa in Off-White Fabric
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, sofa, reupholstered fabric, France, late 1970s The Croissant sofa, designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, epitomizes the organic and fluid design ...
Fabric
$22,720Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Hans Hopfer Roche Bobois Missoni Silk Velvet, Corduroy
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and in a current customized mix of textiles from Sonia Rykiel and the house of Missoni. Features multiple cushions that can be arranged in endless number of ways Mix and match and stack (or don’t) at your leisure! This set includes four square cushions (paprika, orchid, crimson and stripes) as well as two adjustable height straight backs (purple corduroy and floral). Also included are a set of 5 Missoni cushions...
Silk, Velvet
$24,000 / item
H 24 in W 114 in D 114 in
Mah Jong sectional sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois (1970s) ink blue velvet
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mah Jong sectional sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois (1970s) reupholstered in ink blue velvet. Sublime nine piece set, endlessly modular, just in from east coast auction. Viewabl...
Velvet, Foam
$5,493 / set
H 21.66 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
21stC "Mah Jong" Sectional Sofa By Hans Hopfer For Roche Bobois, France c.2000
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Elevate a living space with this stunning designer “Mah Jong” modular sofa suite by Roche Bobois. The set consists of two seat cushions, and two backrests. The layout of the sofa mak...
Fabric