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 Sammode, Pierre Guariche
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
Large Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Gray
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
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
Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Black
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
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 White
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
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
$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 Sammode, Pierre Guariche
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
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
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
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
Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Gray
By Pierre Guariche, Sammode
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 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
Small Pierre Guariche 'G13' Wall or Ceiling Light for Sammode Studio in Black
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
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
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
$645
H 5.91 in Dm 13.78 in
Peill & Putzler White Frosted Glass Flush Mount Ceiling or Wall Light, 1970s
By Peill & Putzler
Located in Barntrup, DE
Peill & Putzler white frosted glass flush mount ceiling or wall light, the 1970s A beautiful white frosted glass flush mount ceiling light or wall light in a shape of a mushroom with a decorative dotted pattern. Made in Germany by Peill & Putzler in 1970s. Dimensions: Diameter 35 cm, 13.77 in; height 15 cm, 5.9 in. The light fixture is in complete working order, but as with all vintage or antique...
Metal
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
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
Lucite Flush Mount Light, Kalmar Style, 1970
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A square and large flush mount light fixture in the style of Kalmar Franken KG, manufactured in Midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s-early 1970s). A square and four rectangular shaped...
Metal
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
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
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
$947Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.91 in Dm 10.63 in
Sergio Mazza Italian "Sigma" Wall Lamp or Ceiling Light for Artemide, 1960s
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
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
Fractale Medium Glass Wall or Ceiling Light
Located in Westport, CT
Gold thermoformed glass (also available in silver) mounted on a base available in lacquered black metal or solid oak. Can be used as a wall or ceiling light. Handmade in Europe Ava...
Metal
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
$1,100 / item
H 3.15 in W 22.45 in D 3.94 in
1 of 4 Sciolari Style Brass and Murano Glass Sconce or Flush Mount
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Berlin, BE
Wonderful wall lamps or flush mounts with 1970s vintage Murano glass cubes on a brass base. The lamps are in excellent condition. To be on the safe side, the lamp should be checked l...
Brass