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.
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
Pierre Guariche Chair Model "Coquillage" by Meurop Iconische Mid-Century Design
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Antwerp, BE
Original chair produced in the 1960s Very nice green color some traces of use. Dimensions: Width 51cm/ Depth 50cm /Height 75cm /Seat height 44cm/ Weight 5Kg. A perfect chair to use o...
Metal
$5,500 / set
Tonneau Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Stratford, CT
There are five Tonneau chairs available, recently upholstered in grey velvet. The seat is made of laminated wood, and the legs are made of black enameled regular iron tubing.
Metal
Vintage Conseil Chairs by Pierre Guariche 1950's, France
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 2 mid century modern 'conseil' chairs designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop. The chairs have a black lacquered frame and are upholstered in their original black leatherette ...
Faux Leather
$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
Joseph-Andre Motte Tongue Model 771 Chairs for Steiner
By Joseph-André Motte
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of dining chairs by Joseph-Andre Motte the model 771 Tongue Chair reupholstered in tan suede. Black enameled steel base and legs. These chairs were designed in 1954 by Joseph-An...
Steel
Lounge chairs of Pierre Guariche, FS105, France, 1950
By Pierre Guariche
Located in PAU, FR
Pierre Guariche - Pair of lounge chairs model FS105 with the original fabric. France, 1950 The structure is in oak
Wood
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
Pair of Cal-Style Side Chairs
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of Cal-Style Mid-Century Modern side chairs with tubular chrome base and original upholstered seat and back.
Chrome
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Located in Buchanan, NY
A sophisticated pair of 1950s Italian sidechairs in green leather with wicker backs and brass detailing. Add some classic mid-century modern elegance to your home with this gorgeous pair of 1950s Italian side chairs...
Upholstery
Pair of Chinese Chippendale Style Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Chinese Chippendale style chairs. Pair of Chinese Chippendale style chairs in a gorgeous blue high gloss finish. This pair ha...
Wood
FS 105 Loungers by Pierre Guariche, France 1950
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
FS105 Armchairs for Steiner. Oak and original upholstery. COM upholstery available.
Oak
Troika Slipper Chair by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Troika chair designed by Pierre Guariche in the 1960's for Airborne Chair in original condition, red wool fabric upholstery.
Metal
$3,495 / set
H 29.93 in W 22.05 in D 31.11 in
Mid-Century Modern Grey Troika Chair & Footstool Pierre Guariche Airborne France
By Jean Prouvé, Meurop, Pierre Paulin, Pierre Guariche
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Troika chair and footstool. manufactured by Airborne in the 1960s. Pierre Guariche designed the Troika chair for the French furniture manufacturer Airb...
Steel
Pair of Baker Neoclassical Style Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
A Classic and handsome pair of baker neoclassical style occasional chairs newly upholstered in a creamy white ecru velvet with black grosgrain detai...
Giltwood, Wood
$2,892
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
$4,000Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 33.5 in W 32.5 in D 33 in
Pair of French Geometrical Club Chairs Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French vintage club chairs designed by Pierre Guariche. Supported by simple yet elegant metal legs, the chairs have Guaric...
Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.12 in D 18.9 in
Pierre Guariche Tulip Chair, Cast Aluminum, Steiner Meubles, Paris, 1954
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Hitchin, England
A Pierre Guariche cast aluminium "Tulip" chair dating from the 1950s. With the metal being cast there is a rawness and imperfect finish to the seat that adds wonderful character. It...
Aluminum, Steel
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.12 in D 18.9 in
Pierre Guariche Tulip Chair, Cast Aluminum, Steiner Meubles, Paris, 1954
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Hitchin, England
A Pierre Guariche cast aluminium "Tulip" chair dating from the 1950s. With the metal being cast there is a rawness and imperfect finish to the seat that adds wonderful character. It...
Aluminum, Steel
Pair of Polaris Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Pair of midcentury swivel chairs model 'Polaris' designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop. The chairs have a metal base with the intact original plastic cover and a with leatherette...
Faux Leather
Tonneau Chair by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France 1950s
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Chicago, IL
A ‘Tonneau’ chair designed by Pierre Guariche for Steiner in the 1950s. This chair has a curved seat with an oval cutout detail in handsome...
Iron
Vintage Coquillage Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 6 vintage coquillage chairs by French designer Pierre Guariche for Meurop. This colourful set of chairs is made from a plastic shell mounted on an elegant black metal base ...
Plastic
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four 'Polaris' Swivel Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of four Polaris swivel dining chairs designed in 1965 by french designer Pierre Guariche for Meurop,Belgium. Featured in the colors ivory white,red and olive green skai, metal swivel base covered with black plastic disc. All four are in their original upholstery, all with sign of use during the years.These chairs were a part of a space-age themed series with the Luna, Jupiter and Mars chairs. Dimensions: H 75 P 50 L 50 cm Belgian furniture manufacturer Meurop is best known for its successful production of 1960s designs by Pierre Guariche (1926-1995), who was one of the most renowned French industrial and interior designers of the mid-20th century. In the early 1960s, Guariche’s designs for Meurop centred around storage items made from plywood, including teak-veneered dining tables , buffets , and shelves . Both the Shell Chair (1961) and the Polaris Chair...
Metal
1960's French Pair of Armchairs by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Paris, FR
A fantastic set of chairs designed by the iconic Pierre Guariche for Meurop in the 1960's. The organic-shaped tubular structure is made of black matt re-lacquered steel with tinted b...
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 20.08 in D 16.54 in
Vintage Coquillage Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s, Set of 6
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 6 vintage coquillage chairs by French designer Pierre Guariche for Meurop. This set of chairs is made from a perforated plastic shell mounted on an elegant black metal base...
Plastic
Coquillage Chairs in Black by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Dronten, NL
Two 'Coquillage' chairs in black by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, Belgium, 1960s. The shell is made of black perforated propylene, the base of chromed metal. Priced individually.
Steel
Vintage Coquillage Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 2 vintage coquillage chairs by French designer Pierre Guariche for Meurop. This colourful set of chairs is made from a plastic shell mounted on an elegant black metal base ...
Plastic
Set of 4 Pierre Guariche "Tonneau" Chairs
By Steiner, Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 Pierre Guariche "Tonneau" chairs with white plastic shell seating and black enameled metal Frame. In original condition with visible wear and slight cracking and crazing to ...
Metal
Sold
H 27.96 in W 17.72 in L 27.96 in
Pierre Guariche Cast Aluminium "Tonneau" Chair, Steiner Meubles, Paris, 1954
By Pierre Guariche, Steiner
Located in Hitchin, England
A Pierre Guariche cast aluminium "Tonneau" chair dating from the 1950s. With the metal being cast there is a rawness and imperfect finish...
Aluminum, Steel