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.
"Jangada" Lounge Armchair in Jacaranda by Jean Guillon for by Italma Woodart
By Jean Gillon
Located in Montreal, QC
"Jangada" Lounge Armchair with Ottoman in Jacaranda Designed by Jean Guillon and made by Italma Woodart Foil manufacturer's label to ottoman ‘WoodArt J...
Jacaranda
Mid-Century 1955 Vintage Jean Gillon Chaise Longue
By Jean Gillon
Located in London, GB
Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was a Brazilian designer of Jewish-Polish descent who became renowned for his work in furniture design and for his significant contributions to Brazilian mode...
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage Brown Leather Chaise Longue
By Enrico Pellizzoni
Located in Milan, IT
Showcasing a fluid silhouette crafted of bronzed cylindrical steel, padded in expanded polyurethane, and upholstered in vintage brown leather, this elegant chaise longue makes for th...
Leather
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
Terminal 1 Chaise Lounge by Jean-Marie Massaud for B&B Italia
Located in Las Vegas, NE
Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, the Terminal 1 is a striking sculptural seating piece that seamlessly combines the functions of an armchair and chaise lounge. Introduced by B&B I...
Leather
Walter Lamb, Chaise Longue, Bronze, Fabric, USA, 1955
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in High Point, NC
A bronze and fabric cord chaise longue designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan, USA, c. 1955. Seat Height (inches): 12.25" Arm Height (inches): 17.13" All items ship ...
Bronze
$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
$5,250
H 33 in W 22 in D 63 in
Charlotte Perriand for LeCorbusier LC4 Chaise Lounge by Cassina in Black Leather
By Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina, Cassina
Located in Dallas, TX
Le Corbusier held that furniture should be “extensions of our limbs and adapted to human functions.” The LC4 Chaise Longue (1928) embodies this notion with a “floating” frame that mo...
Steel
Penelope Green Chaise Longue
By Pier Luigi Frighetto by Black Tie
Located in Milan, IT
The curved Silhouette of this superbly elegant chaise longue provides a chic and comfortable seat that will highlight the decor of any bedroom or...
Metal, Other
$4,500
H 29.5 in W 32.75 in D 32.25 in
1970s Copa Lounge Chair by Jean Gillon for Italma in Solid Imbuia
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Designed by renowned architect and designer Jean Gillon and produced by Italma during the 1970s, the Copa Lounge Chair is one of the defining expressions of Brazilian Modern design. ...
Leather, Imbuia
Chaise Longue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s chaise longue, mix of leather, sky and pony hair upholstery.
Wood
$17,149Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.04 in W 59.85 in D 30.71 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longue by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely Rare Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Produced by Forma. A striking piece featuring a delicate steel frame with brass feet and organically sculpted wooden ar...
Metal
$22,950 / set
H 32.5 in W 34.5 in D 41 in
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
$3,311
H 29.93 in W 56.7 in D 30.71 in
Vintage mid century modern Wave leopard chaise longue, Adrian Pearsall USA 1960s
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hastings, GB
Rare mid century modern 'Wave' chaise longue by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates, USA 1960s. This is Model 2147 CL. No label remaining, but it's well-documented online. Newly uph...
Brass