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.
Pair, Pierre Guariche French Black Benches Steel & Distressed Faux Leather 1960
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Pierre Guariche French black benches or stools in steel & distressed faux leather 1960 designed. Hand stitched Faux Leather with rivets decoration. In all original distress...
Steel
Modern Leather and Steel Sling Stool or Bench
Located in East Hampton, NY
Great looking modern polished steel and leather sling stool or bench.
Steel
Marc Bankowsky, Bronze and leather bench, France, 2006
By Marc Bankowsky
Located in New York, NY
A four legged piece in bronze and leather, perfect as a seat or an ottoman. Size and upholstery are customizable upon request. Marc studied at L’école Nationale Supérieure des Arts ...
Bronze
Pair of Benches in Carved Oak, France, 1940s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Carved in quiet reverence from solid French oak, this pair of benches exudes pastoral strength and monastic simplicity. Each seat is cut from a single plank, the grain running fluidl...
Oak
$13,302 / set
H 27.2 in W 21.6 in D 14.5 in
Set of 3 Counter Stool, Contemporary Design, Black Steel & Black Leather
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned m...
Steel
Sleek Black Leather Bench Designed by Milo Baughman
By Milo Baughman
Located in Dallas, TX
Clean lined bench designed by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. Newly upholstered black leather seat; tufting and piping add visual interest. With conical gold legs. Perfect for extra...
Wood
$12,500 / set
H 21 in W 17 in D 17 in
Pair Of French Black Mid-Century Benches With Brass Accents By Jacques Tournus
By Jacques Tournus
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French black Mid-Century benches by Jacques Tournus, featuring cast aluminum bases with circular brass medallions, and newly upholstered squared seats in striped black and charcoal gray fabric interspersed with gold threads. The best of of Mid-Century style with a nod to Neo-classical design, these stylish and sleek stools...
Aluminum, Brass
Small Pausa Burnt Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Pausa burnt oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 95 x H 45 cm Materials: burnt oak wood. Available in natural oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa is...
Oak
$9,950 / set
H 18 in W 18 in D 14 in
French Modern Neoclassical Mahogany & Leather Benches/ Stools, Andre Arbus, Pair
By André Arbus
Located in New York, NY
Elegant, timeless pair of French Mid-Century Modern neoclassical mahogany and leather benches or stools attributed to Andre Arbus, circa 1930. The pieces feature Classic X-frame leg ...
Leather, Mahogany
Pierre Guariche Pair of Minotaur Stools, France 1960's
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Minotaur stools in leather with black enameled steel bases.
Steel
$6,368 / item
H 20.48 in W 23.63 in D 18.51 in
Piano Bench, Upholstered Stool with Adjustable Height in Black Leather
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Introducing the world’s first Beautiful Piano Bench.Faced with the challenge of crafting an aesthetically stunning seat to complement the genuinely designed pianos by Poul Henningsen, we set out to create a piece that: -has a striking and beautiful form -uses top quality materials -functions beautifully and incorporates an adjustable seat -suits both a traditional and a design-case instrument Our bench is light in appearance, yet strong; soft and supple, yet supportive. The high-quality mechanism of the adjustable-height seat is housed within a completely finished, solid wood case. Our Piano Bench is highly customizable making it easy to match it to any interior or piano. The materials used are the same as for our PH Pianos...
Aluminum
$1,125 / item
H 25 in W 26 in D 16.5 in
Post Modern Lucite Vanity Stool Bench with Faux Leather Snakeskin Upholstery
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Two benches available. Sold individually. These are a first for us and the style, quality and condition continue to amaze us every time we walk by. These stylish, post-modern vintage 1970s Lucite acrylic vanity...
Lucite, Faux Leather, Acrylic
$4,434 / item
H 27.2 in W 21.6 in D 14.5 in
Kitchen Counter Stool, Contemporary Design, Black Smoke Steel and Black Leather
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned m...
Steel