If his famed cousin and longtime colleague Charles-Édouard Jeanneret — better known as Le Corbusier — was the visionary, then Pierre Jeanneret was the member of the architecture and design team who got things done. In recent years, Jeanneret has emerged from Le Corbusier’s shadow, as collectors have discovered his simple and striking chairs, benches, coffee tables and other furniture creations.
Jeanneret studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva and after he graduated in 1921 he became a partner in Le Corbusier’s office in Paris. The pair collaborated on numerous residential projects, most notably the Villa Savoye, the iconic modernist house in suburban Paris completed in 1931.
Jeanneret also worked with the great Charlotte Perriand on the Grand Modele line of tubular metal furnishings that was a sensation at the annual Salon d’Automne design expo in 1929. A rift developed between Jeanneret and his cousin during World War II, as the former joined the French resistance, while Le Corbusier cooperated with the occupying authorities in Vichy. The two did not work together again until 1950, when Le Corbusier persuaded Jeanneret to help execute the master plan for the new city of Chandigarh in Punjab, India. Jeanneret lived and worked there until the final years of his life.
A hallmark of Jeanneret’s furniture designs is his great sensitivity to materials. In contrast to the tubular-steel chairs produced by Marcel Breuer and other members of the Bauhaus, the chromed metal pieces designed by Jeanneret and Perriand — including such as the now-classic LC4 chaise longue and the Grand Confort lounge chair — have a sensuous, relaxed and welcoming look. Conversely, while Jeanneret uses essentially geometric forms for his wooden seating pieces, they exude warmth by nature of the material.
One of Jeanneret’s first manufactured designs in wood is the Model 92 Scissors chair, licensed by Hans and Florence Knoll when they were touring postwar France. But Jeanneret’s finest work in furniture was done in Chandigarh, and these are the pieces that have earned him recent renown.
Crafted of teak, the Chandigarh designs range from low-slung lounge chairs and armchairs with cane seats to desks and tables, most with Jeanneret’s signature drafting compass-shaped legs. Many such pieces on the market today are refurbished, having been found by dealers languishing in scrapyards in India in the late 1990s. Chandigarh is now taking better care of its modernist heritage, making available Jeanneret works all the rarer.
Find authentic vintage Pierre Jeanneret chairs, case pieces, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
$37,180
Pierre Jeanneret Floor Lamp
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1950s, Pierre Jeanneret’s floor lamp combines subtle elegance with practical function. Its sculptural form and refined materials bring both light and quiet sophistication to a ...
Aluminum
Pierre Jeanneret PJ/JM/EC-LU-04-B Standard Lamp / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The relationship between the different shapes ensures a balanced composition. The careful alignment and proportions create an equilibrium, giving a sense of coherent design. Both ten...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Floor Spider Lamp
Located in Wayne, NJ
Mid-Century Modern chrome floor spider lamp. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zip code, as we may be able to deliver cur...
Other
$2,550
H 68 in W 14 in D 11 in
Heifetz Blackened Oak Sculptural Floor Lamp Pierre Yovanovitch Mid Century
By Heifetz, Yasha Heifetz
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Blackened Oak Floor Lamp, designed by Yasha Heifetz for The Heifetz Company, American, circa 1950s. Lamp shade not included. Rewired and ready to use. This lamp has been r...
Wood, Oak
Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp with Eyelet Linen Shades
Located in New York, NY
This slender and graceful lamp features a pair of flexible brass arms which allow the lamp to illuminate both up or down, providing reading and working light as well as to spotlight ...
Fir
$8,977
H 63 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
French Mid-Century Modern Prototype Floor Lamp Attr. to Pierre Guariche
By Serge Mouille, Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
A rare, important French Mid-Century Modern floor / standing lamp attributed to Pierre Guariche, circa 1950. The piece is likely a prototype, not commercially produced. The piece is...
Metal
$14,123
H 88.59 in W 29.53 in D 11.42 in
Tommaso Barbi Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass Floor Lamp "Ginkgo", 1970s
By Bottega Gadda, Tommaso Barbi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Ginkgo four-leaf brass floor lamp, design Tommaso Barbi for Bottega Gadda, 1970s.
Brass
On Hold|$1,500
H 59 in Dm 12 in
Triennale Mid Century Modern Orbiter Chrome Floor Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage Triennale floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman circa 1970's. This versatile piece features three adjustable chrome orb light heads that pivot on balancing lever arms. Globe light bulbs...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Lucite and Chrome Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
This handsome Mid-Century Modern table lamp, circa 1970. It features an open rectangular base in polished chrome with a matching top that supports a rectangular Lucite shade. With it...
Chrome
$9,891Sale Price|40% Off
H 70.08 in W 13.39 in D 33.86 in
Pierre Guariche G2 balancier brass metal floor lamp 1951
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Paris, IDF
The floor lamp model G2, also known as "Equilibrium", is an iconic creation by Pierre Guariche dating back to 1951 and produced by Disderot. Its ingenious design is based on a metal ...
Brass
Pierre Guariche Floor Lamp
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Pierre Guariche "Cerf Volant" floor lamp model G30. France, 1951. Black lacquered metal feet, brass stem, black and white re-lacquered small metal shade, brass fixings. Bibliography - Patrick Favardin, "The decorators of the 50s", Éditions Norma, Paris, 2002, similar model reproduced on p.213 - C. & D. Krzentowski, "The Complete Designer's Lights II, 35 years of collections", Éditions JRP Ringier, Zürich, 2012, similar model reproduced on p.106 - Delphine Jacob, Lionel Blaisse, Aurélien Jeauneau, Pierre Guariche, Luminaires- Furniture-Interior Architecture, Éditions Norma, 2020, model reproduced pp...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Vintage Floor Lamp Design Pierre Cardin for Sciolari, 1970s
By Sciolari Lighting, Pierre Cardin
Located in taranto, IT
70s Floor lamp, original Sciolari production, made of curved steel sheets on four sides. Exclusive design Pierre Cardin for Sciolari. The lamp was found in a closed shop, it st...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Lucite Floor Lamp or Torchiere
Located in Houston, TX
Mid-Century Modern lucite floor lamp or torchiere. Neoclassical style acrylic floor torchère or floor lamp. This midcentury lucite floor lamp...
Metal
$21,378 / item
H 76 in W 21 in D 21 in
Nun 'Curve' Alabaster Floor Lamp in the Manner of Pierre Chareau
By Maison Paname, Pierre Chareau
Located in Glendale, CA
Nun 'Curve' Alabaster Floor Lamp in the Manner of Pierre Chareau The Nun 'Curve' floor lamp is the single sided carved wood base version of the Nun floor collection. Handcrafted in ...
Alabaster, Steel
Sold
H 68.51 in W 22.45 in D 17.92 in
Standard Lamp by Pierre Jeanneret for Chandigarh, India, Circa 1955-56
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, JP
An authentic mid-century piece from Pierre Jeanneret’s legendary Chandigarh commission. Base crafted in teak wood, lamp shade made of aluminum.
Aluminum
Sold
H 66.54 in W 28.35 in D 16.93 in
Pierre Jeanneret 'Standard Lamp' PJ-100101 in Solid Teak with Yellow Shade
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Antwerp, BE
Jeanneret, chandigarh, teak lamp, circa 1955, in original condition Lamp with two lights, known as "Standard Lamp" in solid teak, with two reflectors in embossed sheet aluminium, ...
Teak