The architect Pierre Guariche was one of the leading modern furniture and lighting designers of postwar France. Guariche can, in some ways, be thought of as the French version of Charles Eames: with his lean and angular chairs and slender, sculptural table lamps, he helped introduce a new aesthetic to the country’s interiors — and he was an eager pioneer in the use of new industrial materials and production techniques that emerged in the 1950s.
Guariche studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (the national design academy) under René Gabriel — a designer known for his quality, mass-produced furnishings, who served as a director of the postwar Ministry of Reconstruction. Two years after graduating in 1949, Guariche opened his own design firm, and he was soon creating pieces for numerous companies, including the lighting manufacturer Disderot.
Wood and metal were rationed in the years following the war and Guariche learned to do more with less. His chairs of the early 1950s include several designs with narrow, softly angular wooden frames; others, like the Tonneau chair, feature a single piece of molded plywood set atop metal legs. His lamps of the period are likely his best-known works. They include delicate compositions of slender steel tubes, and more flamboyant pieces such as the Kite lamp, with its curved metal reflector panel.
Always on the lookout for new materials, Guariche spent several years in the mid-1950s operating a firm making furniture in fiberglass and other plastics, along with Joseph André Motte and others. After 1957 — when Guariche was named head of design for the Belgian company Meurop and given a brief to create stylish, up-to-date chairs and cabinets — he began to look to America for ideas.
In the mid-1960s, Guariche produced several lines of deeply upholstered, rounded lounge chairs inspired by the Space Age look, and gave them names like Jupiter, Polaris and Luna. While Guariche always kept pace with his times, throughout his career he showed a consistent talent for producing elegant, eye-catching forms using a minimum of materials.
Find vintage Pierre Guariche furniture today on 1stDibs.
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Black
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in black. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by...
Aluminum, Steel
Small Model G13 Flush Mount Wall/Ceiling Light by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small Model G13 flush mount wall/ceiling light by Pierre Guariche. Originally designed in 1952, this current edition is made in France by Sammode Studio. White perforated metal base,...
Metal
1950s Pierre Guariche Model G20 Ceiling Lamp for Disderot
By Disderot, Pierre Guariche
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Pierre Guariche Model G20 Ceiling Lamp for Disderot. A quintessentially 1950s French design executed in perforated black painted metal with attractively patinated brass hardwar...
Brass, Metal
Small Model G13 Flush Mount Wall/Ceiling Light by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small Model G13 flush mount wall/ceiling light by Pierre Guariche. Originally designed in 1952, this current edition is made in France by Sammode Studio. Black perforated metal base,...
Metal
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Gray
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in gray. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by ...
Aluminum, Steel
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in White
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
Located in Glendale, CA
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in white. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by...
Aluminum, Steel
Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Black
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in black. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by Sammo...
Aluminum, Steel
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Black
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in black. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by...
Aluminum, Steel
$5,650 / set
Pair of Pierre Guariche Style Flush Mount
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of flush mount in the style of Pierre Guariche. Two-light per flush mount, 60 watts max per light. US rewired and in working condition.
Iron
Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in White
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in white. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by Sammod...
Aluminum, Steel
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Gray
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in gray. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by ...
Aluminum, Steel
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in White
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in white. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by...
Aluminum, Steel
Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Gray
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
Located in Glendale, CA
Pierre Guariche 'G13' wall or ceiling light for Sammode Studio in gray. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic lamp is a newly produced authorized re-edition by Sammod...
Aluminum, Steel
Large Model G13 Flushmount Wall/Ceiling Light by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Model G13 flush mount wall/ceiling light by Pierre Guariche. Originally designed in 1952, this current edition is made in France by Sammode Studio. White perforated metal base,...
Metal
Scandinavian Flushmount Ceiling Lamp, 1950s, UL-ready
Located in Oslo, NO
Rare and decorative ceiling lamp with a shade in opaline glass and metal frame. Designed and made in Norway from circa 1950s first half by Høvik Lys. The lamp is fully working and in...
Brass
Scandinavian Flushmount Ceiling Lamp, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and sublime ceiling lamp with a shade in opaline glass and frame in brass. Designed and made in Norway, from circa 1950s first half by Sønnico. The lamp is fully working an...
Brass
one Ceiling Lamp by Rupert Nikoll, 1950s
By Rupert Nikoll
Located in Wien, AT
one Ceiling Lamp by Rupert Nikoll, 1950s Original condition. Two bulbs.
Brass, Aluminum
Large Wavey Murano Ceiling/ Wall Light
Located in Westport, CT
One textured clear blown Murano wavy sconce with silver hardware, comprised of six lights up to 60 watts each, can be displayed horizontally or vertically ...
Glass
French 1950's Large Scale Wall or Ceiling Light by Lunel
By Arlus
Located in Hanover, MA
Another addition to our collection of what we call "elbow form" wall or ceiling mounted fixtures by Lunel Lumiere, France 1950's. This one is notable for its dark walnut embelli...
Brass, Steel
Large Vintage Glass Ceiling or Wall Light Flushmount, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Wonderful vintage hand made blown glass flushmount. Germany, 1960s. Lamp sockets: E27 (US E26). .
Glass
Large French Vintage Wall Ceiling Light Flush Mount, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Berlin, DE
Wonderful midcentury flush mount attributed to Mathieu Matégot. France, 1950s. Perforated, enameled metal shield with brass and lucite. Lamp sockets: 4.
Metal, Brass
$1,176
H 5.91 in Dm 10.63 in
Sergio Mazza Italian "Sigma" Wall Lamp or Ceiling Light for Artemide, 1960s
By Artemide, Sergio Mazza
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous Mid-Century Modern "Sigma" nickel-plated brass and Murano glass wall lamp. Sergio Mazza designed this elegant ceiling lamp in Italy during the 1960s for Artemide. Fully or...
Metal, Nickel, Brass
1960s Stilnovo Hexagonal Flush Mount Ceiling Light Model 1183
By Stilnovo
Located in New York, NY
1960s Stilnovo hexagonal flush mount ceiling light with white enameled metal structure, textured glass diffuser, and brass mounts. Stamped 'STILNOVO' on inside of metal structure.
Metal, Brass
1960s Sergio Mazza 'Sigma' Wall or Ceiling Light for Artemide
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Three Mid-Century Modern wall or ceiling lights designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, circa 1960s, executed in nickelled brass and pressed glass.
Brass
Pierre Guariche Style Flush Mount
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Miami, FL
Superb flush mount Pierre Guariche style. Two-light, 60 watts max per bulb US Rewired and in perfect condition. Two flush mount available, priced individually.
Brass
Large Model G13 Flushmount Wall/Ceiling Light by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Model G13 flush mount wall/ceiling light by Pierre Guariche. Originally designed in 1952, this current edition is made in France by Sammode Studio. White perforated metal base,...
Metal