Although he was Romanian by birth, architect and designer Jean Gillon’s heart and soul belonged to his adopted country of Brazil. The country’s culture and revered architecture served as a muse for his mid-century furniture designs. Today Gillon ranks among the most interesting figures in Brazilian modernism, which is characterized by sensual forms and beautifully handcrafted chairs, tables and cabinets built from exotic hardwoods.
Gillon was born in Iasi and graduated from the city’s George Enescu National University of the Arts. He then moved to Paris, where he studied tapestry, worked at the newspaper Le Monde as a cartoonist and moonlighted as a set designer for the Paris Opera Ballet. He eventually left Paris for Vienna, where he studied architecture at the School of Industrial Arts, known today as the University of Applied Arts. In the early 1950s, Gillon was a visiting lecturer at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts.
In 1956, Gillon moved with his wife and two daughters to São Paulo, where he developed a passion for Brazilian architecture, namely the work of modernists such as celebrated architect Lina Bo Bardi and designer José Zanine Caldas. Gillon took on interior decorating projects and formed the Fábrica de Móveis Cidam, which later became Italma Wood Art, in order to design furniture for his clients. Gillon’s furnishings, produced at Italma and also in collaboration with manufacturers such as Probel, were immensely popular and could be found in the planned capital city of Brasilia, a project launched in 1956 by Oscar Niemeyer.
Gillon designed everything from bowls and baskets to centerpieces, tables and other objects and furniture. However, he was best known for his lounge chairs and sofas, including his iconic Jangada chair. Named for the Portuguese word for traditional Brazilian fishing boats, the award-winning Jangada was framed in jacaranda in the late 1960s. The welcoming seat of Gillon’s visually striking trapezoidal lounge chair features plush leather cushions that are supported by nylon fishing rope.
Gillon continued to produce furniture for Italma Wood Art until he retired in 2003. He died in 2007, and today Gillon’s pieces remain highly covetable among interior designers and collectors of modern furniture.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Jean Gillon seating, decorative objects and serveware.
Jean Gillon Jangada Lounge Chair & Ottoman in Jacaranda & Leather, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Deland, FL
Named the "Jangada" chair, after the small rustic fishing boats used by fishermen along the northern coast of Brazil, this chair and ottoman set designed by the iconic Jean Gillon is...
Jacaranda
$18,500 / item
1960s Jangada Chair and Ottoman by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
A profoundly authentic expression of Brazilian modernism, this 1960s Jangada lounge chair and ottoman by Jean Gillon embodies the relaxed sophistication and material honesty that def...
Rosewood
1960s Jangada Chair and Ottoman by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Jangada lounge chair and ottoman by Jean Gillon is a masterclass in material honesty and relaxed luxury. Dripping with authenticity, the sculptural frame is crafted from old-growth B...
Rosewood
Pair of 1960s “Saci” Armchairs by Jean Gillon for WoodArt in Solid Jacaranda
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Offered here is a rare matched pair of “Saci” armchairs by Jean Gillon for WoodArt—an iconic expression of 1960s Brazilian modernism and a sculptural triumph in solid Jacaranda (Braz...
Jacaranda
Jean Gillon Mid Century Desk Chair
By Jean Gillon
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jean Gillon mid century desk chair The chair measures: 23 wide x 26.25 deep x 35 high, with a seat height of 22.25 inches and arm he...
Chrome
$1,499
H 32 in W 23.25 in D 25 in
Mid-Century Modern Swivel Desk Chair by Andrew Morrison & Bruce Hannah for Knoll
By Knoll, Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison
Located in Lafayette, IN
Arguably one of the most elegant desk chair designs from the mid-century era, this Morrison/Hannah design for Knoll Studios is utilitarian sculpture at its best. Chair features a cur...
Aluminum, Chrome
Rare sideboard by Jean Gillon, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced in the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil. Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was born in Lasi, Romania. In 1956, already possessing a consistent portfolio, he moved to São Paulo, where he dev...
Hardwood
$5,995
H 31.25 in W 30.5 in D 35.5 in
Jean Gillon for Italma Amazonas Mid Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Italma, Jean Gillon
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jean Gillon for Italma Amazonas Mid Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman The chair measures: 30.5 wide x 35.5 deep x 31.25 high, with a seat height of 15 inches and arm height/chair cle...
Leather, Wood
Osvaldo Borsani Tecno Modus Desk Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Red Osvaldo Borsani Revolving Office Chair Produced by Tecno in Italy circa 1970 Plastic seat on aluminum frame with caster wheels. Perfect for a small desk.
Aluminum
Jangada Chair by Jean Gillon, 1960's, Brazilian Modern
By Jean Gillon
Located in Culver City, CA
The Jangada Chair: A Brazilian Masterpiece With Stories to Tell Let’s talk about the Jangada Chair; a stunning piece of functional art that’s as much a conversation starter as it is ...
Leather, Rosewood
$48,585 / set
H 27.56 in W 41.34 in D 31.5 in
Rare pair of Jean Gillon "Rodeio" Easy Chairs, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced in the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil. Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was born in Lasi, Romania. In 1956, already possessing a consistent portfolio, he moved to São Paulo, where he dev...
Leather
$15,995 / set
H 32.75 in W 35 in D 41 in
Brazilian Jangada Rosewood & Leather Sling Chair with Ottoman by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon, Sergio Rodrigues, Percival Lafer
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Anchored in the bold horizons of 1960s Brazilian modernism, the Jangada lounge chair and ottoman by Jean Gillon stands as a testament to artful craftsmanship, organic structure, and ...
Leather, Rosewood
Jean Gillon "Rodeio" Easy Chair, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced in the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil. Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was born in Lasi, Romania. In 1956, already possessing a consistent portfolio, he moved to São Paulo, where he dev...
Leather
$16,900 / set
H 31.5 in W 36.6 in D 38.2 in
Jean Gillon Paddle Arm Chairs Cognac Leather For Probel, 1960
By Jean Gillon, Probel
Located in Vienna, AT
Paddel pair of arm-chairs by Jean Gillon for Probel, in cognac leather and wood Beautiful and comfortable chairs in great condition with hardly any wear. We have a matching sofa (3 ...
Leather, Hardwood
Herman Miller Eames Elephant Grey Desk Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Herman Miller Eames elephant grey swivel desk chair. Fixed height base, with working wheels and swivel. No cracking to the shell. In very g...
Aluminum
Jean Gillon Paddle Sofa Leather For Probel, 1960
By Probel, Jean Gillon
Located in Vienna, AT
Paddel sofa by Jean Gillon for Probel, in leather and wood Beautiful and comfortable sofa in great condition with hardly any wear. We have a pair of chairs available also. Gillon's ...
Leather, Hardwood
Desk Chair by Charles Pollock for Knoll, 1963
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A vintage Pollack executive chair on five leg pedestal base featuring his ‘rim technology’ of metal edge banding around the chair’s periphery s...
Aluminum
Authentic 1960s–1970s “Jangada” Chair by Jean Gillon for Italma Wood Art
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
An iconic “Jangada” lounge chair by Jean Gillon, produced in the 1960s–1970s by Italma Wood Art in Brazil. Alongside designers like Percival Lafer and Jorge Zalszupin, Gillon helped ...
Rosewood
Jean Gillon Suede and Rosewood Arm Chair
By Jean Gillon
Located in Greensboro, NC
Mid Century Brazilian Rosewood Chair by Jean Gillon with green suede cushion and armrests. Remnants of the Italma (Italma S.A. Industria Do Mobiliario) visible on back stretcher. Romanian-born, naturalized Brazilian Jean Gillon...
Suede, Wood
Jean Gillon Brazilian Modern Lounge Chairs, a Pair
By Italma, Jean Gillon
Located in Raleigh, NC
An outstanding vintage pair of lounge chairs by Jean Gillon. These have a Jacaranda rosewood frame with original leather cushioned seats. A wonderfully comfortable pair of Brazilian Modern chairs...
Leather, Jacaranda
Midcentury Brazilian Office Chair by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon, Italma Wood Art
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Jean Gillon Office chair in Louro Preto Wood ( a Rosewood) soft pad with chrome details. Height, tilt and swivel adjustments. Utilizing bend plywood similar to the Eames lounge chair...
Metal
Midcentury Brazilian Lounge Chair by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon, Italma Wood Art
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Brazilian Jangada lounge chair by Jean Gillon for Italma / Wood Art. Like many of his designs Gillon was inspired by traditional fishing in Brazil utilizing native hardwoo...
Leather, Wood
Rare Jangada Chair and Ottoman by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Excellent example of Brazilian Modernism. This Jean Gillon “Jangada” chair and ottoman is in wonderful condition. Chair features a Jacaranda wood frame, ...
Suede, Jacaranda, Rosewood
Sold
H 32.25 in W 39 in D 42 in
Brazilian Midcentury Gran Captain Jangada Lounge Chair, Jean Gillon, circa 1960
By Italma, Jean Gillon
Located in Milford, NH
A fabulous Brazilian midcentury gran captain or “Jangada” lounge chair in jacaranda wood with distressed black tufted leather seat in woven rope s...
Leather, Jacaranda
Pair of Jean Gillon Round Stools with Cowhide Seats
By Jean Gillon
Located in Astoria, NY
A pair of, circa 1950s round stools by designer Jean Gillon, including sling seats in cowhide against jacaranda frames, with turned, bulbous form legs and crossed spreader bars. The ...
Cowhide, Jacaranda
Jangada Chair and Ottoman by Jean Gillon, 1960
By Jean Gillon
Located in Hamburg, PA
An impressive Jangada chair and ottoman by Jean Gillon. He was a Romanian designer and architect who moved to Brazil in the 1960s where he designed this ...
Jacaranda, Upholstery
Jean Gillon Leather Sling Lounge Chair
By Jean Gillon
Located in Wayne, NJ
Jean Gillon Lounge chair.
Jean Gillon Brown Leather Lounge Chair
By Jean Gillon
Located in Wayne, NJ
Jean Gillon Lounge Chair.
Four arm chairs by Jean Gillon for Italma Brazil
By Italma, Jean Gillon
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Rare rosewood & leather arm chairs by Jean Gillon for Italma Brazil. Priced individually.
Leather, Rosewood