Jean Gillon Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
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.
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Creator: Jean Gillon
Jean Gillon, Brazilian Modern, Jacaranda, Chrome, Writing Desk, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Manhasset, NY
Jean Gillon, Brazilian Modern, Jacaranda, Chrome, Writing Desk, Brazil, 1960s
A Jacaranda wood and chrome writing desk designed by Jean Gillon and produced in Brazil in the second h...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Chrome
Brazilian Modern Credenza in Hardwood & Brass Handles, Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Mid-Century Modern Credenza in Hardwood with Brass finishes designed by Jean Gillon in the sixties in Brazil is the FIND of the year.
The credenza has a rectangular structure made of Brazilian Rosewood, known as Jacaranda, with two main legs and two support legs on each side. It has five large drawers and four doors with shelves inside. The brass finishes are located in the joints, fringes and keys.
There are few reasons why this credenza is one-of-a-kind: First, the high end wood work. This piece was commissioned for a private residence in Sao Paulo and it shows. The joints, the wood carving, the smooth curves in the drawers, even the hidden toothpick support legs are superbly finished. Second, the rosewood is of the finest quality which can be seen in the wood veins, the grain and smoothness of the wood. Lastly, design. This piece has all the components of a true Brazilian Modern piece with straight almost brutalist silhouettes softened with smooth curves (seen in the drawers and edges) that resemble Modernist architecture from Brasilia of the sixties.
Owning a Jean Gillon piece like this is not just about acquiring a beautiful piece of furniture; it's also about possessing a part of Brazilian design history and culture. This credenza is a testament to Jean Gillon’s creativity and vision, and it would make an excellent addition to any interior space that values and appreciates the significance of this design.
The credenza is showcased in our showroom next to Jorge Zalszupin’s bar cart...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Jean Gillon Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Jean Gillon Brazilian Rosewood and Chrome Executive Desk
By Jean Gillon, Italma Wood Art
Located in Garnerville, NY
Large and roomy Brazilian Jacaranda executive desk. Chrome legs and drawer hardware. The four drawers are flush right of the user. High and wide enough from the desk top for loads o...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Chrome, Nickel
$5,400 Sale Price
20% Off
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Brazilian Midcentury Credenza in Jacaranda by Jean Gillon, 1950's
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Midcentury Credenza in jacaranda rosewood by Jean Gillon,
Brazil,
1960s.
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Jacaranda
Jean Gillon case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Jean Gillon case pieces and storage cabinets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Jean Gillon case pieces and storage cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original case pieces and storage cabinets by Jean Gillon were created in the mid-century modern style in south america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider case pieces and storage cabinets by Giuseppe Scapinelli, Sergio Rodrigues, and Forma Brazil. Prices for Jean Gillon case pieces and storage cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,200 and can go as high as $40,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,100.
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