- Want more images or videos?Request additional images or videos from the seller
Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Armchair by Artifort, Netherlands, circa 1970

About the Item
- Creator:Pierre Paulin (Designer),Artifort (Manufacturer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 24.81 in (63 cm)Width: 33.47 in (85 cm)Depth: 26.78 in (68 cm)Seat Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. The feet have been professionally refinished in white lacquer.
- Seller Location:Pijnacker, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1712228457022
Pierre Paulin
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 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.
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. You will see on 1stDibs that Pierre Paulin’s creations have a unique personality: bright and playful yet sophisticated and suave.
Artifort
The sterling reputation that Artifort enjoys isn’t limited to the innovative upholstery and fluid, organic shapes for which its products are widely known — the legendary Dutch brand’s vintage seating and other furniture is also celebrated for its embodiment of functionality, comfort and quality. These are among the principles that underpin the philosophy toward modern furniture design at Artifort, which has been at the crossroads of furniture and art for over 125 years.
Prior to 1928, the year Artifort officially became a brand, Jules Wagemans had a small upholstery business in Maastricht, the Netherlands. After setting up in 1890, his son, Henricus Wagemans, broadened the scope of the company to include furniture production. By the end of the 1920s, their showroom in Amsterdam had made them a recognizable brand across the Netherlands.
Then named H. Wagemans & Van Tuien, the company changed its name to Artifort after the economic recession. Artifort came from two Latin words meaning “art” and “strong” — a perfect description for the style of each design and the manufacturer’s intention to create sturdy furnishings. Artifort’s reputation for durable armchairs and sofas endures, and vintage editions of this seating are now family heirlooms in many homes.
Artifort became a magnet for high-profile and up-and-coming designers alike. Many furniture designers’ careers began thanks to collaborations with Artifort, such as Dutch industrial and jewelry designer Gijs Bakker and Indonesian-born designer Kho Liang Ie. Also known for designing the interiors at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Kho Liang Ie was an aesthetic consultant at Artifort and used his expertise to turn the company into a world-class brand. Perhaps his largest contribution, however, was attracting the talents of French furniture and interior designer Pierre Paulin and English furniture designer Geoffrey D. Harcourt.
Paulin’s bright and colorful lounge chairs, such as his Orange Slice chair and Mushroom chair, are still central to the Artifort identity. 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, while Harcourt deserves credit for popularizing Artifort internationally and extending their reach into foreign markets.
Another talent boom in the 1990s at Artifort yielded collaborations with Jasper Morrison, Wolfgang Mezger and René Holten. Iranian designer Khodi Feiz was named art director in 2014 and has continued the tradition of recruiting top designers such as Claesson Koivisto Rune, Ilse Crawford and Luca Nichetto.
Find a collection of vintage Artifort lounge chairs, tables and more on 1stDibs.
Shipping & Returns
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Pijnacker, Netherlands
- Return Policy
A return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Armchair for Artifort in Deep Purple Leather, 1972By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandF598 ‘Groovy’ 'M' lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in purple leather. The price is per chair. We have more chairs available. Designer: Pierre Paulin (France) Manufact...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Armchairs for Artifort in New Upholstery, 1972By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandPair of ‘Groovy’ F598 lounge chairs by Pierre Paulin for ARTIFORT – Netherlands, 1972. The chairs have been reupholstered in a beautiful off-white bouclé wool/cotton fabric from Par...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Chair for Artifort New Upholstery, Netherlands, 1972Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland‘Groovy’ F598 lounge armchair by Pierre Paulin for ARTIFORT – Netherlands, 1972. Very comfortable and ergonomic to sit in. The chair has been completely restored with new foam and...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pierre Paulin F560 Mushroom for Artifort, Netherlands, circa 1970By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandMushroom f-560 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands – circa 1970. The chair is made in a very dark brown (almost black) wool fabric by Kvadrat. The condition of th...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wool
- ABCD Armchair by Pierre Paulin for ARTIFORT Original Fabric, Netherlands - 1968By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandVery rare ABCD chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort – Netherlands, 1968. The chair is very comfortable and ergonomic to sit in. The items still have the original wheels underneath and...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- ABCD Armchair by Pierre Paulin for ARTIFORT New Upholstery, Netherlands - 1968By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandRare ABCD F260 chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort – Netherlands, 1968. It is re-upholstered in a beautiful wool/cotton fabric from Paris, France. The chair is very comfortable and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin M-Chair, Mid-Century ModernBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The tongue chair, the ribbon chair, the tulip — to name but ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Customizable Artifort Ribbon Chair by Pierre PaulinBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in New York, NYA completely upholstered design by Pierre Paulin from 1966 and a professional, innovative vision on the well-known ribbon form. Metal frame with horizontal springs, covered with foam...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTextile
$9,052 / item - Mid Century Model F580 Groovy Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1966By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely and very comfortable Artifort Groovy Chair (or "M" Chair), model F580. This model is designed by Pierre Paulin in 1966. This is the very first edition with very nice curv...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Armchair for Artifort in Deep Purple Leather, 1972By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandF598 ‘Groovy’ 'M' lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in purple leather. The price is per chair. We have more chairs available. Designer: Pierre Paulin (France) Manufact...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Contemporary Minimal Round Coffee Center Table in Travertine Stone Natural PoresLocated in Porto, PTLunarys Center Table is an outstanding modern design piece. A key coffee table for a contemporary living room project seems to come directly from space. Made in travertine stone is p...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
MaterialsTravertine
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin, M-ChairBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The Tongue chair, the Ribbon chair, the Tulip — to name but ...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Space Age Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Original Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Chair in Fluffy Pierre Frey, Artifort, 1970sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA highly in-demand Pierre Paulin Model F598 "Groovy" lounge chair newly upholstered in fluffy wool, mohair and alpaca fabric which is produced by one of the most luxurious fabric man...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin M-Chair, Mid-Century ModernBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The tongue chair, the ribbon chair, the tulip — to name but ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort Groovy F598 (M chair) by Pierre Paulin in redBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in ABCOUDE, UTDesigned by Pierre Paulin in 1973. It is model F598 of Artifort also called M chair following its characteristic shape. It has become a collectors item, a real statement piece to bri...Category
Vintage 1960s Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Model F598 Groovy Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely and very comfortable Artifort Groovy chair (or "M" Chairs), designed by Pierre Paulin. This F598 model is designed and produced in the 80's. The chair is just upholstere...Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Early Pierre Paulin F598 "Groovy" Chair for ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Palm Springs, CAA pair of iconic early Pierre Paulin "groovy" chairs, reupholstered in a Maharam woven fabric, with new foam.Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
Recently Viewed
View MoreRead More

Exploring Our Current Obsession with Sixties Style
A new exhibition in Philadelphia stars a complex decade that continues to inspire.

Pierre Paulin Is Still Groovy after All These Years
A sprawling show at the Centre Pompidou in Paris spotlights the famed furniture designer’s oeuvre, including rooms for two French presidents.
The 1stDibs Promise
Learn MoreExpertly Vetted Sellers
Confidence at Checkout
Price-Match Guarantee
Exceptional Support
Buyer Protection
Trusted Global Delivery