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.
$1,643Sale Price|56% Off
"Robert" Fireside Chair by Pierre Guariche Upholstered in Pierre Frey
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Hitchin, England
A "Robert" Fireside chair designed by Pierre Guariche and produced in the 1960s by Meurop. Formed of tubular metal and reupholstered in decorative waves of fake fur that is a perf...
Steel
$2,492Sale Price|66% Off
"Robert" Lounge Set Designed by Pierre Guariche Upholstered in Pierre Frey
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Hitchin, England
A "Robert" armchair, fireside chair and footstool designed by Pierre Guariche and produced in the 1960s by Meurop. Formed of tubular metal and the armchair featuring wooden arms, th...
Steel
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminum Pair of Tulip Chairs Steiner France circa 1954
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of cast aluminum Tulip chairs or also known as Tonneau by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France, 1954. Sculpted and curved cast aluminum seat ...
Aluminum
$6,943 / set
H 31.5 in W 18.9 in D 16.54 in
1951 Pierre Guariche, Prefacto Set of Four Chairs, Airborne Edition
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Prefacto by Pierre Guariche Very rare suite of four chairs Airborne Publisher 1951 Dimensions: 80 x 42 x 48 cm Mahogany and metal Mythical and very rare Beautiful condition Se...
Metal
Fiberglass Chair by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous fiberglass chair by Pierre Guariche. Cream fiberglass frame sits on four iron legs. Great vintage condition and beautiful design. Great standalone piece. Fantastic piece of ...
Iron
1950s Cast Aluminum Dining Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Saint Paul, MN
Pierre Guariche's work has risen in popularity as reissues bring light to his magnificent body of work. The Tulipe Chair is one such piece that has become popular despite it being us...
Aluminum
$2,824
H 29.14 in W 18.51 in D 18.12 in
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN "Tonneau" CHAIR by PIERRE GUARICHE, STEINER, France 1950
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in PARIS, FR
A single and real iconic chair : the Modernist, Free Form, Mid-Century-Modern, Reconstruction, "Tonneau" chair in its finest aluminium version : 4 legs in black lacquered tubular met...
Metal, Aluminum
Midcentury Kroehler Upholstered Lounge Chairs
By Kroehler Mfg. Co.
Located in Dallas, TX
Well designed pair of sculptural armchairs by the Kroehler Co. Featuring blue fabric upholstery, solid American wood construction with comfortable deep seats. The sculptural legs rea...
Upholstery, Wood
Pierre Guariche SK660 Armchairs in Cream Bouclé, France 1960’s
By Pierre Guariche, Siege Steiner
Located in New York, NY
Editions Steiner. Black lacquered feet. Freshly reupholstered in crème white bouclé by Bisson Bruneel. Brass necks at the junction of armrests and back.
Brass, Steel
$17,000 / set
H 29.5 in W 26 in D 29.5 in
Pair of White Troika Slipper Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Airborne, France 1960
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Troika slipper chairs by Pierre Guariche. This model is the lesser-seen variant without arms on enameled flat steel l...
Cut Steel
$2,975
H 32.29 in W 31.11 in D 29.53 in
Mid-20th SK660 Armchair by Pierre Guariche in New Bouclé Upholstery France, 1953
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Almelo, NL
SK660 armchair designed by Pierre Guariche and manufactured by the French company Steiner, 1953 Tubular black lacquered metal feet and wooden frame foam-filled and reupholstered with...
Bouclé
$19,214 / set
H 35.24 in W 38.19 in D 39.77 in
Exceptional Lounge Chairs, Upholstered in Alpaca, Italy, 1950s
By Flemming Lassen, Guglielmo Ulrich, Viggo Boesen, Märta Blomstedt
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare, exceptional pair of 1950s Italian lounge chairs, attributed to Guglielmo Ulrich. Newly upholstered in a premium, brown / grey 100% Alpaca fabric. Very comfortable chairs. If y...
Alpaca
Napoleon III Armchair re-upholstered in Pierre Frey
Located in Paddington, NSW
Early 20th-century vintage armchair with a solid carved wooden frame, newly restored in luxurious Pierre Frey fabric. The chair combines rich red velvet along the arms and base with ...
Velvet, Wood, Cotton
$1,850
H 28.35 in W 17.33 in D 20.48 in
Rare Yellow Fiberglass Tulip Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, 1950s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Dronten, NL
A exceptional example of mid-century French design, this rare tulip chair was created by Pierre Guariche for Steiner and produced in fiberglass in the late 1950s. Guariche was known ...
Steel
$12,700 / item
H 38.59 in W 27.96 in D 31.5 in
Jindrich Halabala Lounge Chairs Upholstered in Brown Pierre Frey Mohair
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jindrich Halabala, lounge chairs, model 'H269', Pierre Frey Teddy mohair 'Bambi', stained beech, Czech Republic, 1930s. Extraordinary easy chairs by Jindrich Halabala upholstered in...
Mohair, Beech
Low Chairs, Robert by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
We offer you a great set of low chairs Robert by Pierre Guariche, manufactured by Meurop in the 1960s. We have a pair in beige leatherette and a pai...
Metal
Sold
H 34 in W 21.75 in D 21.25 in
Vintage Pierre Guariche "Robert" Armchair and Ottoman, edited by Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
This "Robert" armchair and ottoman by Pierre Guariche, edited by Meurop, circa 1960, is newly recovered in a dark navy wool. Ottoman dimensions: 19" D x 11.5" W x 16.25" H.
Metal
Sold
H 27.56 in W 24.81 in D 27.56 in
"Robert" Armchair Set Designed by Pierre Guariche Upholstered in Pierre Frey
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Hitchin, England
A "Robert" armchair and footstool designed by Pierre Guariche and produced in the 1960s by Meurop. Formed of tubular metal and wooden arms, the latter have been refinished. Re...
Steel
Sold
H 32.5 in W 16.5 in D 20.5 in
Guariche Robert Meurop Dining Chairs Faux Leather, 1960 Mid-Century, France
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Guariche Robert Meurop dining chairs black faux leather, 1960 Mid-Century, France Versatile and Modern Meurop "Robert" chairs from 1960s. Iron legs and faux black leather. These are...
Iron
Sold
H 30 in W 25 in D 28 in
Mid-Century Upholstered Metal Armchair by Pierre Guariche, France, c. 1950s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York City, NY
Mid-Century Upholstered Metal Armchair in the Manner of Prouve, France, c. 1950s Sleek design consists of a clean tubular metal frame, handsome wooden armrests, and brand new upho...
Metal
Couple of Chairs Designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in SAINT-YRIEIX-SUR-CHARENTE, FR
Pair of chairs, design by Pierre Guariche, published by Meurop in the 60s, from the series called "Robert". Frame in black lacquered metal tubing, refurbished to new condition, seats...
Metal
Miami Easychair by P. Guariche for Meurop, 1950s
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of two red fabric Miami easychairs designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop. The chairs feature a minimal design black lacquered metal base. The chairs are modular and can be used as a two-seat sofa. The fabric and metal base are in good condition. Original makers mark still present. 1950s, France Measures: Height: 85cm/33" Seating height: 40cm/16" Width: 54cm/21" Depth: 78cm/30" Midcentury French designer Pierre Guariche was born into a family of goldsmiths in Paris in 1926. He studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris under René Gabriel, graduating in 1949. Next he worked in the studio of Marcel Gascoin, one of his former professors, and joined the Union des Artistes Moderns (UAM), a collective dedicated to the promotion of progressive design principles founded by Robert Mallet-Stevens in 1929. Through the UAM, Guariche was able to experiment with materials and forms and exhibit his work at the Salon des Arts Ménagers and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs. Guariche’s work was soon noticed and put in production by Galerie MAI, Pierre Disderot’s lighting company, and the newly formed Airborne brand—which began editing Guariche’s Prefacto...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 28.5 in W 18.25 in D 19 in
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminum Pair of Tulip Chairs for Steiner France circa 1954
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of cast aluminum Tulip chairs by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France, 1954. Sculpted and curved cast aluminum seat ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 28.5 in W 18.25 in D 19 in
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminum Tulip Chairs for Steiner, France, circa 1954
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Chicago, IL
Cast aluminum Tulip chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France, 1954. Sculpted and curved cast aluminum seat with an opening on the seat on sleek four leg black tubular metal base....
Aluminum
Vintage G1 rocking chair by Pierre Guariche, 1950s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century rocking chair model 'G1' designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop. Camel leather upholstery on a chromed metal frame and wooden feet. 1950s - France/Belgium Designed in ...
Leather
Sold
H 28.5 in W 18.25 in D 19 in
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminum Pair of Tulip Chairs for Steiner France circa 1954
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of rare cast aluminum Tulip chairs by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France, 1954. Sculpted and curved cast aluminum s...
Aluminum
Jupiter swivel chair by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Designed in 1966 - this Jupiter swivel chair by pierre Guariche is a very nice space age design chair with typical design elements for that era. Very comfy seat mounted on a chromed...
Chrome