Pierre Paulin introduced a fresh breeze into French furniture design in the 1960s and ’70s, fostering a sleek new Space-Age aesthetic. Along with Olivier Mourgue, Paulin developed chairs, sofas, dining tables and other furnishings with flowing lines and almost surreal naturalistic forms. And his work became such a byword for chic, forward-looking design and emerging technologies that two French presidents commissioned him to create environments in the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Paulin was born in Paris to a family of artists and designers. He initially sought to become a ceramist and sculptor and was studying in the town of Vallauris near the Côte d'Azur — a center for pottery making, where Pablo Picasso spent his postwar summers crafting ceramics — but broke his hand in a fight. He enrolled at the École Camondo, the Paris interior design school. There, Paulin was strongly influenced by the work of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Arne Jacobsen, as was reflected in his early creations for the manufacturer Thonet-France.
It was at the Dutch firm Artifort, which he joined in 1958, where Paulin blossomed. In a few years, he produced several of his signature designs based on abstract organic shapes. These include the Butterfly chair (1963), which features a tubular steel frame and slung leather, and a group of striking seating pieces made with steel frames covered in polyurethane foam and tight jersey fabric: the Mushroom (1960), Ribbon (1966) and Tongue (1967) chairs. The revered designer not only introduced new construction techniques to Artifort furniture but contributed fresh materials, Pop art colors and dazzling shapes to the mid-century modern era as a whole.
In 1971, the Mobilier National — a department of France’s Ministry of Culture in charge of furnishing top-tier government offices and embassies — commissioned Paulin to redesign President Georges Pompidou’s private apartment in the Élysée Palace. In three years, Paulin transformed the staid rooms into futuristic environments with curved, fabric-clad walls and furnishings such as bookcases made from an arrangement of smoked-glass U shapes, flower-like pedestal chairs and pumpkin-esque loungers.
Ten years later, the Mobilier National called on Paulin again, this time to furnish the private office of President François Mitterand. Paulin responded with an angular, postmodern take on neoclassical furniture, pieces that looked surprisingly at home in the paneled, Savonnerie-carpeted Louis XVI rooms. As those two Élysée Palace projects show, Paulin furniture works well both in a total decor or when used as a counterpoint to traditional pieces. His creations have a unique personality: bright and playful yet sophisticated and suave.
Find vintage Pierre Paulin lounge chairs, armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Round Dining Table by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice round dining table. Designed by the famous Pierre Paulin in the 60's for Artifort. This particular item is fabricated in 2019. Very stable foot in the color grey with a ...
Metal
Table à manger ou à écrire carrée Pierre Paulin vintage en bois de palissandre
By Pierre Paulin
Located in BESANÇON, FR
Belle table à manger ou à écrire vintage des années 70, attribuée au designer français Pierre Paulin, série Dassas pour les éditions Strafor, plateau carré aux bords arrondis en bois...
Metal
Vintage Early Pierre Chapo Model T 21 B Round Dining Table, circa 1985
By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation
Located in Munich, Bavaria
The Model T 21 B from Pierre Chapo is a true masterpiece. Pierre Chapo designed this table around 1973. All 4 feets can be dismantle and are locked with 1 single screw. This table...
Metal
Dining table by Pierre Jeanneret, India, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A solid wood dining table designed by Pierre Jeanneret for the Chandigarh project. With its tapered legs and thick rectangular top, the piece exemplifies Jeanneret’s architectural pu...
Wood
Round dining table By Alfred Hendrickx for Belform - Circa 1960
By Alfred Hendrickx
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Round dining table By Alfred Hendrickx for Belform - Circa 1960 Belgium design - Vintage Measures : Ø 120cm H69cm Material : white laminated wooden top - Granite Wear consistent wi...
Granite, Metal
Pierre Lardin Dining Table
By Pierre Lardin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco dining table in oak. Model presented at Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne, Paris 1937. Pictured in the portfolio from the expositi...
Oak
$12,747Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 28.75 in Dm 47.25 in
1st Edition 'Tulip' Dining Set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands, 1965
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Very rare and complete 1st edition dinner set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands – 1965. This is a rare and complete 1st edition set. The chairs swivel. The table top has been professionally refinished in the same colour. The fabric is still original but shows a lot of staining. The legs have some normal signs of age and us. This set is extremely rare and could feature in a Paulin / Artifort museum or dedicated art show. Reupholstery on request. Designer: Pierre Paulin (France) Manufacturer: ARTIFORT (Netherlands) Country: Netherlands Model: Tulip table and chairs...
Metal
Pierre Cardin Dining Table
By Pierre Cardin
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
French dining table attributed to Pierre Cardin, 1970s. Polished brass bi-color metal base with glass top.
Brass, Chrome
Pierre Chapo T21B "Sfax" Dining Table for Atelier Pierre Chapo, 1973
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Pierre Chapo “T21B Sfax” Dining Table for Atelier Pierre Chapo, wood, France, 1973 A perfect study in balance and proportion, the T21B “Sfax” dining table by Pierre Chapo reveals th...
Wood
Fine French 1960s Round Gueridon or Side Table by Pierre Paulin
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Long Island City, NY
With a cast aluminum pedestal and a rosewood round top. Designed by Pierre Paulin, edited by Artifort.
Aluminum
Saarinen Round Marble Dining Table for Knoll, 1970s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Renens, CH
Round Tulip Table from the pedestal series designed by Eero Saarinen, produced by Knoll International. The white marble (with a grey vein) comes in a gloss polished finish, with a w...
Marble, Aluminum
Mid 20th Century Vintage Regency Faux Bois Dining Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning vintage Regency dining table. Beautiful hand carved detail in a classic Faux Bois design. Inset glass top. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate. The table is in great struct...
Glass, Wood
1967, Pierre Paulin, Side Table Model 877 in Shiny Brown
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Side table in brown. Has traces of wear like some scratches on top (picture #5) and some loss of paint (see picture #6 and #7). Stackable in two ways (see picture #9 and #10). Side t...
Plastic
Moka Dining Table C, Round Table for Four by Nono
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Moka dining table, round table for four by NONO. The Moka dining table is a sculptural dining table collection inspired by the iconic Italian moka pot....
Hardwood
Round Dining Table by Vittorio INTROINI for SAPORITI, 1972
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Round Table with polished metal base designed by Vittorio Introini. Italy, Saporiti, 1972. Cast aluminium base in the shape of a four-sided Flower Petal with a round, thick tempere...
Aluminum
Expandable Dining Table by Pierre Guariche & A.R.P
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Expandable dining table by Pierre Guariche & Atelier de Recherche Plastique Table with ash extension by Pierre Guariche for Les Huchers Minvielle, 1955. Revarnished tray in perfe...
Metal
Artifort Orange Slice High Coffee Table in Oak by Pierre Paulin
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in New York, NY
Orange Slice table was especially designed as a table with the fauteuil. The Orange Slice table is available in two sizes. The base is either chrome...
Oak
Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Circle Table with Zebrano Top
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Voorburg, NL
Designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, this Circle table exemplifies the designer’s refined modernist approach and mastery of form. Produced in the Netherlands, the table features a...
Aluminum, Chrome
Round Dining Table by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice round dining table. Designed by the famous Pierre Paulin in the 60's for Artifort. Very stable foot with a wooden white plated top. The table is in very good, alm...
Metal
Sold
H 29.14 in Dm 43.31 in
Pierre Paulin Flower Shape 8810 Round Dinning Table for Boro Belgium, 1975
By Pierre Paulin, BORO Belgium
Located in The Hague, NL
The Flower organic shape round dinning table designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Boro 8810 in Belgium, 1970's period. Not many of this series pieces have survived and therefore this table is rare museum quality piece in original condition. Pierre Paulin’s collaboration with the Belgium manufacturers Boro produced a stunning example of early plastic furniture. The organic design of the 8810 Flower chair...
Metal
Sold
H 30 in W 121.25 in D 50 in
Pierre Paulin for Baker Bird's-Eye Maple Art Deco Conference or Dining Table
By Pierre Paulin, Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An extremely rare and exceptional Art Deco conference or dining table designed in 1984 by Pierre Paulin for Baker Furniture. The table features gorgeous bird's-eye maple wood grain w...
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 28 in D 24 in
Early Pierre Paulin Dining / Kitchen Table Chairs, Red and White. Excellent.
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Kansas City, MO
Early production Pierre Paulin dining or kitchen table and four very comfortable swivel armchairs. Notice the early Artifort production featuring the co...
Steel