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.
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
Set of 6 Tonneau chairs by Pierre Guariche for Steiner
By Studio A.R.P. (Joseph-André Motte, Michel Mortier and Pierre Guariche), Pierre Guariche
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of 6 dining chairs ‘model Tonneau’ designed by Pierre Guariche and produced Steiner in France during the 1950’s. The frame features molded plywood shells that have been stained b...
Beech, Plywood
$795 / item
Six Pierre Guariche Coquillage Chairs
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Dronten, NL
White fiberglass shell chairs designed in the 1950s by Pierre Guariche. For a very short period the Coquillage or Scallop chair was reissued by Maisons...
Steel
Pierre Guariche SK660 Armchairs in Cream Bouclé, France 1960’s
By Siege Steiner, Pierre Guariche
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
Rare Set of 6 Pierre Guariche Tulip (Tulipe) Cast Aluminum Chairs, 1950s, France
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare set of 6 original Pierre Guariche cast aluminum Tulip / Tulipe (sometimes listed as "Tonneau") chairs, dating from the 1950s. This set comes from the collection of Yves Saint ...
Aluminum, Iron
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
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
Set of 4 Pierre Guariche Aluminum Chairs, 1950s France
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous set of 4 aluminum chairs by Pierre Guariche. Cast aluminum frame sits on four iron legs. Great vintage condition and beautifully minimal design. Extremely rare. The non conv...
Aluminum, Iron
Pierre guariche Rare pair of tulip chairs
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Pierre guariche Rare pair of tulip chairs Cast aluminum and black lacquered metal Circa 1954 W 46 x D 48 x H 72 cms The pair : 5400 euros
Metal, Aluminum
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminium Tulipe Seat for Steiner with original fabric 1953
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Stunning cast aluminum chair with their original orange fabric, extremely rare chair with their original fabric. In 1951 Guariche began to collaborate with Steiner, another major f...
Aluminum
Tonneau chair by pierre guariche from the 60s in solid wood
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Tonneau’ chair from the 60s by French designer Pierre Guariche. All-wood model in moulded plywood. Very good vintage condition with a beautiful patina. The chair shows signs of age a...
Wood
Aluminum Tonneau Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, 1950s
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Renens, CH
A cast aluminium Tonneau Chair designed by Pierre Guariche in the 1950s. The chair features a curved shell seat on a black painted metal base. The raw finish of the cast aluminum, wi...
Aluminum
Alumbium tulip chairs by Pierre Guariche steiner édition
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Série de cinq chaises tulipes par Pierre Guariche édition Steiner, vers 1954
Metal, Aluminum
Set of Six “Tonneau” Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France, 1950s
By Emanuel Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Boom, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful set of six original “Tonneau” chairs, designed by Pierre Guariche and produced by Steiner in France during the 1950s. These iconic chairs feature molded plywood shells with...
Plywood
Tulip Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, 1950s, Original Patina
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A rare Tulip chair in fiberglass, designed by Pierre Guariche and produced by Steiner in the 1950s. An iconic example of post-war French design, this chair reflects Guariche’s pione...
Steel
Pair of Pierre Guariche Yellow Fiberglass Side Chairs by Steiner - France 1950's
By Siege Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of yellow fiberglass side chairs by Pierre Guariche in good vintage. These "tonneau" chaped chairs are iconic Guariche pieces and epitomize his series of compact barrel sha...
Steel
P. Guariche for Meurop, 1960s Coquillage Chair
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Coquillage side chair was designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop in the early 1960s. The shell is made of grey perforated propylene, the base of black lacquered metal. The chair ...
Metal
Pierre Guariche Dining Chair for Meurop, 1960s
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Mid-century dining chairs designed by French designer Pierre Guariche for Belgian furniture maker Meurop in 1960s. Upholstery and black painted metal legs...
Metal
Cast aluminium 'Tulipe' chair by Pierre Guariche. French 1950s.
By Pierre Guariche
Located in London, GB
"Tulipe" chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner. Cast aluminium shell seat with black tubular steel legs. In good vintage condition. The cast aluminium seat shows lots of very nice cas...
Aluminum, Steel
Elegant Set of Five Chairs by Pierre Guariche - 1950s Vintage Design
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Elegant Set of Five Chairs by Pierre Guariche - 1950s Vintage Design Discover the timeless appeal of this exclusive set of two chairs designed by renowned French designer Pierre Gua...
Plastic
Elegant Set of 2 Chairs by Pierre Guariche - 1950s Vintage Design
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Elegant Set of 2 Chairs by Pierre Guariche - 1950s Vintage Design Discover the timeless appeal of this exclusive set of two chairs designed by renowned French designer Pierre Guaric...
Plastic
$942Sale Price / set|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Design Robin Chair Set by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1950's
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Mid-Century Modern design Robin dining chair set of 2 by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, made in Belgium late 1950's. All original purple fabric on seat on black metal frame base...
Metal
Mid-Century modern Pair of “Tonneau” chairs, 1965 edition by Steiner
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Pair of “Tonneau” chairs, 1965 edition by Steiner, designed by Pierre Guariche. Presented in their original dark brown velvet upholstery, the chairs remain in good vintage condition,...
Steel
Pierre Guariche, Set of Four "Amsterdam" Chairs, circa 1953
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Pierre Guariche, set of four "Amsterdam" chairs, circa 1953. Metal and leather.
Metal
Six “Tonneau” chairs by Pierre Guariche, Editions Steiner, France, circa 1954
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Paris, FR
Six “Tonneau” chairs, designed by Pierre Guariche for Steiner in 1954. Molded plywood shell, birch veneer, black moleskin cover, black lacquered metal base. Biography: Pierre Guaric...
Metal
Pierre Guariche 2x Tonneau Chair 1950 by Steiner, France Mid Centruy Modern
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Munster, NRW
2x "Tonneau" chairs 1955 by Pierre Guariche for Edition Steiner, France. This set comes from a private collection in Paris. Fabric covered with black tubular steel legs. Good vintag...
Steel
Pierre Guariche for Meurop Set of Six 'Coquillage' Dining Chairs
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Guariche for Meurop, set of six chairs in yellow and blue plastic, model 'Coquillage', Belgium, 1960s. These chairs were designer by Pierre Guariche for Meurop and titled 'Co...
Metal
Black Tonneau Chair by Pierre Guariche, 1950s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Brussels, BE
Black Tonneau Chair by Pierre Guariche, 1950s
Wood
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Tonneau Guariche Chairs
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bent plywood chairs in original condition from the 1950s missing their original upholstery Located in Brooklyn.
Plywood
Dining Chair for Meurop by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
1960s / Belgium Size W410 D480 H820 SH460 mm Dining chair designed by Pierre Guariche and manufactured by Meurop. The seating has been reupholstered.
Steel
1951 Pierre Guariche, Prefacto Set of Four Chairs, Airborne Edition
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
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