Roche Bobois Furniture
In 1974, Roche Bobois opened its first showroom in the United States on Madison Avenue in New York City. The celebrated luxury French furniture brand is now in 50 countries with more than 200 stores.
The Roche Bobois story has origins in 1950, when entrepreneur Jacques Roche converted an old Paris theater into two contemporary furniture boutiques so that his sons could help usher stunning Bauhaus-inspired work out of the shops and into French homes nearby. At another showroom called Au Beau Bois, also in the French capital city, the Chouchan family was simultaneously selling home furnishings. The families met later, when Philippe and François Roche convened with Patrick and Jean-Claude Chouchan at a furniture exhibition in Copenhagen in 1960 and afterward produced a catalog announcing their partnership.
Minimal and modernist Scandinavian design had gained prominence in the furniture industry by 1960, rendering designers such as Kaare Klint and Poul Henningsen marquee names — and Roche Bobois's principals had taken notice. Following a national advertising campaign in Elle magazine a year later, the Scandinavian furniture that the newly minted Roche Bobois was importing to Paris became a huge success. Early promotional material from the firm likely included the sleek modular wall units crafted in rosewood by Danish furniture maker Poul Cadovius. It didn’t take long for Roche Bobois to shift toward producing its own contemporary furniture line.
When the popularity of cable television took hold in more major American cities during the 1970s, sofas and other seating became integral to contemporary living-room decor. Roche Bobois’s newly launched Les Contemporains series positioned its own sofas front and center, while also offering pieces like the chic Bambole two-seater — boasting soft duvet cushion covers — designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Bold works from the company during the decade included Marc Berthier’s Pop Art–colored tubular metal desks and chairs — the latter covered with braided fabric — as well as one of Roche Bobois’s most enduring and well-known pieces, the Mah Jong sectional sofa created by sculptor, painter and designer Hans Hopfer. Anchored by few central elements, this modular lounge sofa can be combined or stacked, giving the buyer total freedom over its appearance and the ability to maximize comfort.
Since its inception, Roche Bobois has worked with many internationally renowned architects and designers on its collections, among them Paola Navone and Vladimir Kagan. Even fashion designers such as Missoni and Emanuel Ungaro have made contributions to the company’s lineup.
In 2010, Roche Bobois marked its 50-year anniversary by debuting a partnership with French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. A decade later, Roche Bobois teamed up with Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, who designed a collection of organically shaped sofas as well as vibrant, colorful accent pillows and rugs.
Roche Bobois’s offerings over the years have included everything from mid-century modern armchairs to Art Deco case pieces to sculptural outdoor cocktail tables framed in metal wire — shop these classics now on 1stDibs.
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary French Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary French Roche Bobois Furniture
Acrylic, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Lucite
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather, Ultrasuede
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather, Wood
2010s French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
Mid-20th Century French Roche Bobois Furniture
Chrome
1990s French Post-Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Chrome
2010s French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather, Foam
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Aluminum
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Travertine
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
1990s French Post-Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Wool
20th Century French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Travertine, Steel
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Travertine
2010s French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric, Foam
1970s French Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Foam, Fabric
2010s French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary French Roche Bobois Furniture
Velvet
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Wool, Synthetic
Early 2000s French Post-Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
1970s Italian Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
Late 20th Century Spanish Art Deco Roche Bobois Furniture
Lacquer, Wood
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Silk, Velvet
1970s Swiss Post-Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Metal
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
2010s French Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
20th Century Italian Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Steel
1980s Italian Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Marble, Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
1970s Italian Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary French Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Silk, Velvet
Late 20th Century European Post-Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary French Roche Bobois Furniture
Leather
1970s Italian Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
2010s European Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Wool
Late 20th Century Spanish Art Deco Roche Bobois Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
1970s French Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Upholstery, Foam, Leather
1970s French Post-Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Wool, Foam
1970s French Space Age Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century Spanish Art Deco Roche Bobois Furniture
Brass
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Chrome
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
Early 2000s Italian Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Plastic
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Cotton, Velvet
1970s French Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Fabric, Velvet
2010s French Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Roche Bobois Furniture
Silk, Velvet
1970s French French Provincial Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Bronze
1980s French Vintage Roche Bobois Furniture
Carrara Marble