Rare Mid Century Jean-Pierre Laporte Girolle Armchair, 1969

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Rare Mid Century Jean-Pierre Laporte Girolle Armchair, 1969

About the Item

Of this rare and unique armchair design—the Girolle—the designer Jean-Pierre Laporte said, “I discover all the qualities of polyester to exploit its flexibility, its nervousness, its ability to recover its memory shape. All this generates in me a creativity of forms to infinity. Sculpture enters the world of furniture. " At the time he unveiled this design, the idea of using newfangled materials like polyester was only just entering into the collective consciousness of furniture designers on the edge of innovation; Laporte was one of the first to fully embrace the material, in fact not using it to merely replace wood or metal, but celebrating its properties in designs that pushed the limits of the possible, like this mid-century modern armchair. Laporte was hired by renowned German cabinetmaker Thonet in the mid-1960s and honed his craft under the artistic eye and direction of Pierre Paulin. Half a decade later, the Girolle armchair was born, finding an immediate place in design history. Today, it’s not hard to see what made this chair so exalted in its time. In fact, its powers to arrest one’s attention and spark a desire to deeply explore its erotic, curving lines have not dimmed in the slightest. The pure white base is a sensual, sculptural masterpiece, while the soft red original fabric from Kvadrat offers a warm invitation to curl up atop it. Lest the unique design seem more decorative than functional, note that Laporte created the piece for optimal sitting comfort. One of these rare armchairs is actually displayed at Paris museum Centre Pompidou. Truly a museum piece, this Girolle armchair is in excellent vintage condition. Bibliography: Karoll Audibert, Jean-Pierre Laporte. Ten years of creation, Édition Edouard Edwards, Press of Soulié, Frontignan, 2010. Similar model reproduced on back cover, p. 8, 45-47, 50-51, 120, 124. The "Girolle" chair by Jean-Pierre Laporte is a summary of all the aspirations that the designer wanted to breathe into his furniture. True sculpture, its organic form allows an incredible sitting comfort. He is one of the first to exploit the possibilities of new materials coming into the furniture market, such as polyester fiber. He presented this form completely new at the 46th SAD in 1969. Jean-Pierre Laporte himself describes this creation in these terms: "The work of development of the Girolle lasted more than a year. Not very obvious to draw in plan and section, I model several models with polyester and fiberglass bought at Adam in Montparnasse. This new material fascinates me. With respect to wood and its rigidity, I discover all the qualities of polyester to exploit its flexibility, its nervousness, its ability to recover its memory shape. All this generates in me a creativity of forms to infinity. Sculpture enters the world of furniture."

Creator:
Thonet (Cabinetmaker),Jean-Pierre Laporte (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 28.75 in (73 cm)Width: 31.5 in (80 cm)Depth: 29.53 in (75 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Fabric,Polyester,Wool
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1969
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Paris, FR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU3020312647022