Best known in the world of design as simply Raphaël, Raphaël Raffel was one of the most influential French mid-century modern designers and decorators. His style inspirations ranged from 18th-century Parisian design to 1960s American and Italian Space Age chic.
Born in 1912 in Paris, Raffel studied design at the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1934, he began an interior decorating business, counting legendary French-American dancer Josephine Baker among his first clients.
During the 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Raffel was regarded as one of France’s illustrious “ensembliers-décorateurs,” designers who not only created furniture but focused on every element of interior space, from wall decorations to lighting.
By the 1950s, Raffel’s decorating and design talents had gained the attention of the French public service. Several commissions were awarded to Raffel to decorate embassies, university residences, post offices, the National Assembly and the ground floor and a wing of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. Additionally, in 1952, Raffel worked with French designer, sculptor and architect André Arbus to decorate a section of the luxury ocean liner Bretagne. That same year, Raffel’s work was shown with designs by French ceramist Georges Jouve at the Salon des Arts Ménagers. In 1958, Raffel exhibited at the Brussels World’s Fair.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Raffel was inspired by the era’s popular Space Age style, evident in his plush, croissant-shaped sofas and pod-shaped lounge chairs, club chairs and armchairs, which he designed for furniture makers such as Maison Honoré and Herman Miller. Raffel also combined lacquer, glasswork, distinct colors and gilt bronze in his elegant, French neoclassical coffee and cocktail tables, side tables and desks.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Raffel’s business began to wane, finally closing in 1983. Raffel continued to work on design and decorating commissions until he died in 2000.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Raphaël Raffel seating and tables.
Space Age Lounge Chair by Raphaël Raffel, France 1960s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare 1960s Space Age lounge chair by French designer Raphaël Raffel. This Modernist chair features a molded smoked acrylic shell that graceful...
Leather, Acrylic
Space Age Vintage Green Ivory Plastic Lounge Chair Raphael Raffel 1970 France
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage green and ivory lounge chair from plastic and upholstery by Raphael Raffel (Rafael), France, 1970s An amazing freestanding lo...
Fabric, Plastic
Mid Century French Brown Leather Lounge Chairs by Raphael Raffel 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Detroit, MI
This stunning pair of vintage mid century modern lounge chairs were designed by Raphael Raffel and made in France circa 1970. These matching arm chairs are exceptionally well-made wi...
Metal, Stainless Steel
Vintage Space Age-Style Smoked Opaque Acrylic Lounge Chair by Raphael Raffel
By Raphael Raffel
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Beautiful lounge chair designed by French designer Raphel Raffel circa 1970s. Chair is fabricated from smoked opaque acrylic and has a seat cushion and back cushion for increased com...
Acrylic
Raphael Raffel Croissant Sofa - Maison Honoré, Paris, 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Raphael Raffel Sofa, 1970s Newly reupholstered in an ivory wool bouclé by Pierre Frey.
Foam
Raphael Raffel “Croissant” Sofa, 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Raphael Raffel “Croissant” sofa, black leather, France 1970s. This exceptional "Croissant" lounge sofa, designed by the avant-gardist Ra...
Leather
Raphael Raffel “Croissant” Sofa, 1970
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Raphael Raffel “Croissant” sofa, leather, France, 1970. This exceptional "Croissant" lounge sofa, designed by the avant-gardist Raphael ...
Leather
$18,742
H 23.63 in W 90.56 in D 53.55 in
Croissant Sofa by Raphael Raffel for Honore Paris, Pure Alpaca, 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare croissant sofa by Raphaël Raffel for Maison Honoré Paris and produced in the mid 1970s. The sofa has been restored and is newly ...
Alpaca
$2,068Sale Price|20% Off
H 38.59 in W 31.5 in D 35.44 in
1970's Fiberglass Lounge / Easy Chair Model "Tina" by Risto Halme for Peem Oy
By Risto Halme, PEEM Finland
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Wonderful Space Age lounge chair by Risto Halme for Peem Oy ,Finland. Frame made of fiberglass, upholstered with dark purple leather. Named "Tina". The seat can be adjusted to any ...
Leather, Fiberglass
Art Deco Lounge Chairs in Green Olive Velvet Upholstery
Located in Antwerp, BE
The soft and sensuous green olive velvet upholstery is in absolutely outstanding original condition. Rippled waterfall style pleated tailoring is punct...
Upholstery, Wood
$18,500
H 20.5 in W 111 in D 63 in
Raphael Raffel Croissant Sofa in Brown Leather, Honoré Paris, 1970s
By Honoré Paris, Raphael Raffel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Raphael Raffel designed, 1970's, made-to-order natural leather Croissant Sofa for Honore Paris. Raphael Raffel (1912-2000), who trained at the École des Beaux Arts, was a well-know...
Leather
Space Age Leather Cantilever Lounge Chair, 1960's
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
This 1960's lounge chair embodies the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of space-age design. Upholstered in premium grey eco-leather, it features a sculptural, ergonomic form that offers ...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Brown Leather Lounge Chair
By Coja Culemborg
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Coja lounge chair produced in the Netherlands. Stylish and comfortable 1960s brown leather lounge chair. Both the ch...
Leather, Wood
Modernist Space Age 1970s Polished Chrome Sling Lounge Chair
By Milo Baughman
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist Space Age 1970s polished chrome sling lounge chair, amazing design, Classic 1960s.. 1970s styling, exceptional quality and construc...
Chrome
$3,400
H 27.5 in W 28 in D 35 in
Rare Space Age, Modernist Chromed Steel Lounge Chair by Plato Ginello, Italy
By Plato Design, Davis Furniture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Space Age, modernist chromed steel lounge chair by Plato Ginello, Italy. Truly amazing sculptural, architectural design. Superior quality and constr...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
$1,590 / set
H 26.78 in W 29.53 in D 31.5 in
Space age Orbis lounge chairs by Luigi Colani for Cor, 1960s
By Luigi Colani
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Rare pair of space age 'orbis' lounge chairs designed by Luigi Colani and produced by Cor in the 1970s. The chairs have a white wooden frame and the original fabric cushions. 1960s...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 27 in W 31 in D 28.5 in
Pair of 1960s Space Age Modern Molded Plastic Lounge Chairs by Raphaël Raffel
By Eero Aarnio, Herman Miller, Raphael Raffel
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of 1960s Space Age Modern molded plastic lounge chairs by mid-century modern french designer Raphaël Raffel for Herman Miller. Raphaé...
Upholstery, Plastic, Faux Leather
Sold
H 27 in W 29 in D 29 in
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Vintage Plastic Club Chairs Raphael Raffel 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Buffalo, NY
Mid-Century Modern / Space Age vintage plastic club chairs, designed by Raphael Raffel (Rafael), France, 1970s The club chair features a tulip form with a rounded seat, which is reu...
Fabric, Plastic
Pod Lounge Chairs by Raphael Raffel from the 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in amstelveen, NL
Pod Space Age style lounge chair designed by Raphael Raffel. Base structure in two brown see-through plastic pieces and its original brown velvet cushions. France, 1970’s.
Fabric, Lucite
Sold
H 33.47 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
French Raphael Raffel Lounge Chair in Red Leather & Stainless Steel, 1970s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A beautiful lounge chair designed by Raphael Raffel, initially made for the interior of the executive office of the P.T.T. Telecom in France in 1973. This version is upholstered in a...
Steel
Sold
H 26.5 in W 29.75 in D 29 in
Mid-Century Modern Red Space Age Club Pair of Chairs Raphael Raffel, France
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Wayne, NJ
Mid-Century Modern red space age club pair of chairs Raphael Raffel, France. The bases are the same color throughout. The photos are showing shadows and glare and is making the color...
Fabric
20th Century Office Chair by Raphaël Raffel, 1974
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Paris, FR
A highly collectible vintage lounge or office chairs by iconic French designer Raphael Raffel designed in stainless steel and black leather with its distinctive tripod shaped structu...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 29 in W 26 in D 28 in
Raphael Raffel Pod Bronze Acrylic Pair of Chairs with Light Gray Leather Seats
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of 1970s chairs. Bronze tone acrylic frames and light gray leather upholstery.
Leather, Acrylic
Sold
H 26 in W 28 in D 26 in
Raphael Rafael French Modern Smokey Lucite Club Tub Chair, Red, Leather, 1960s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Raphael Rafael French modern Smokey Lucite club tub chair, dark red / burgundy leather / leatherette, 1960s.
Lucite
Sold
H 26 in W 28 in D 26 in
Raphael Rafael French Modern Smojed Lucite Club Tub Chair, Beige, Leather, 1960s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Raphael Rafael French Modern Smojed Lucite Club Tub Chair, Beige leather / leatherette original textile., 1970’s. W: 28.0 inch D: 26.0 inch H: 25.6 ...
Lucite
Sold
H 25 in W 29 in D 26 in
Raphael Raffel Pod Bronze Acrylic Pair of Chairs with Light Gray Leather Seats
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of French 1970s chairs by Raphael Raffel. Clear acrylic in bronze color with light gray leather seats and backs. 2 pairs available.
Acrylic
20th Century Pair of Armchairs by Raphaël Raffel, 1974
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Paris, FR
A set of two highly collectible vintage lounge or office chairs by iconic French designer Raphael Raffel designed in stainless steel and black leather with its distinctive tripod sha...
Stainless Steel
Raphael Raffel Club Chair, France, circa 1970
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Rare Raphaël Raffel club chair with tan leatherette cushions, France, 1970s. Design: Raphaël Raffel Date of manufacture: circa 1970 Model: Club lounge chair Material: Plexiglass ...
Faux Leather, Plastic