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
Pierre Guariche Black Tubular Metal Stool with Handles, France, 1950's
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pierre Guariche (1926-1995) Black Tubular Metal Stool with Handles and Upholstered Seat, France, c. 1950 H: 12.5. W: 19.5. D: 12.5 in. This style is exceptional as it features the h...
Metal
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
Stool French Design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Stool, French design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop. coating to change
Metal
Pair of Large 'Strapontin' Stools by Design Frères in COM
By Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large 'Strapontin' stools by Design Frères, in COM. This is the COM version: 1 yard required for the pair Instructions to send will be reconfirmed after the order is confirmed.
Wrought Iron
$197Sale Price|50% Off
H 18.9 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
1950s Retro Vintage French Industrial Metal Stool with Red Vinyl Seat
Located in Markington, GB
1950s retro vintage French Industrial metal stool with red vinyl seat.
Metal
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
By Milo Baughman
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Silk Parson Ottomans or stools. Gingham silk upholstery covers the pair. very good condition. In the Billy Baldwin style with button top. This ...
Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Wood
Pierre Chapo, Stools, Elm, France, 1970s
By Pierre Chapo
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of elm stools, model S13A, designed and produced by Pierre Chapo, France, c. 1970s. Provenance: Private collection, Lausanne, France Demosmobilia, Lugano, Switzerland We...
Elm
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
$15,900 / set
H 18 in W 20 in D 15.75 in
Pair of French Bronzed Iron Stools / Benches after Jean Michel Frank
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of stools / benches in bronzed wrought iron in the modern neoclassical taste expressed by Jean Michel Frank. The wrought iron frame is in the Classic X form and the apro...
Wrought Iron
$9,100 / item
H 24 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
Vintage Pierre Jeanneret Stools with Cushion, Wood and Metal, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round upholstered stool by Pierre Jeanneret from the Chandigarh furniture program, circa 1960s. A contemporary dark alpaca-and-wool cushion sits above a vintage circular timber seat,...
Metal
$3,950 / set
H 18.75 in W 16 in D 16 in
Pair of Vintage Midcentury Harvey Probber Parsons Milo Baughman style Stools
By Edward Wormley, Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of vintage midcentury stools attributed to Harvey Probber. Legs have a radius interior side. I believe these most likely need re-uphols...
Wood
$6,025 / set
H 18.12 in W 20.48 in D 15.36 in
Pair of Stools Gilt Wrought Iron by Pier Luigi Colli, Italy, 1950s
By Pier Luigi Colli
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of stools, poufs or ottomans by Pier Luigi Colli. Hammered gilt gold mat wrought iron, brass detail. Fully upholstered with mohair velvet fabric. Famous design like Maison Janse...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Brass
Steel and Brass Campaign Bench / Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A well made bench in the style of Maison Jansen. Original upholstery.
Steel
$12,500 / set
H 21 in W 17 in D 17 in L 21 in
Pair Of French Black Mid-Century Benches With Brass Accents By Jacques Tournus
By Jacques Tournus
Located in Plainview, 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
$7,900 / set
H 17.5 in W 18 in D 14 in
Pair of French Modern Neoclassical Stools / Benches Attributed to Andre Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in New York, NY
Elegant, Sober and Timeless Pair of French Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical benches or stools with needle point seats attributed to Andre Arbus. The benches are in the Curile form and...
Hardwood
“Breda” Lounge Chair by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Beerse, VAN
A lovely “Breda” lounge chair, designed by French designer Pierre Guariche and produced by Meurop in Belgium during the 1960s. The design looks simple at first but it’s defenately a...
Metal
$20,594 / 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
$12,500 / set
H 22.5 in W 28.5 in D 18.25 in
Matched Pair Hollywood Regency Designer Leather Stools Benches / Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Chicago, IL
Matched Pair of Hollywood Regency Designer leather Stools Benches. In the style of Parzinger. Very high quality. The seat alone is 18.75" ...
Brass
Pair of French Stools by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in MADRID, ES
Pair of french leather stools, 1960s, designed by Pierre Guariche. About the designer: A visionary designer, he brought a functionalist dimension to furniture without ever forgettin...
Iron
Sold
H 15.75 in W 19.69 in D 11.03 in
Model "Taureau" Footstool by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, Belgium, 1961
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Antwerp, BE
Stool with metal tube frame with original olive green upholstery designed by Pierre Guariche, 1950s, Belgium.
Metal
Pierre Guariche, Pair of Stools in Metal, 1960s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pierre Guariche, attributed to. Pair of stools. Concave seat, white, standing on a lacquered tubular base, black. French work realized in the 1960s.
Metal
Stool French Design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Stool, French design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop.
Metal
Taureau Stool by Pierre Guariche
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
France / Circa 1960s Size : W490 D340H300 mm ? Vintage Taureau stool by Pierre Guariche. It is a black color of original leather.
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 28.35 in D 29.53 in
Troika Lounge Chair by Pierre Guariche & Airborne, France, 1950s
By Pierre Guariche
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Troika lounge chair by Pierre Guariche & Airborne. Labeled. Reupholstered 5 years ago.
Iron
Sold
H 16.54 in W 21.66 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Stool French Design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of stool French design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop.
Metal
Sold
H 16.54 in W 21.66 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Stool French Design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of stool French design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop.
Metal
Pair of Stool French Design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of stool French design of the 1950s by Pierre Guariche for Meurop.
Metal