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.
H 26.38 in W 35.44 in D 33.47 in
Mushroom Armchair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980's
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable Artifort Mushroom chair, designed by Pierre Paulin in the 60's. This lovely Mushroom Chair is made in the 80's. It is covered with the original Kvadrat wool fabric...
Fabric, Wood
H 27 in W 32 in D 41 in
Pumpkin Chair by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset
By Ligne Roset, Pierre Paulin
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2020s. France. White boucle fabric with stationary base.
Bouclé
H 25.6 in W 30.32 in D 33.47 in
New and Made to Order Gubi Pacha Lounge Swivel Chair by Pierre Paulin
By Pierre Paulin, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
Curvaceous, soft and low-slung, the Pacha lounge chair is a joyfully modernist creation which embraces both extreme comfort and effortless versatility. Iconic designer Pierre Paulin’s vision was to create a sensation of ‘sitting on clouds’. A little ahead of its time in 1975, the modular Pacha Collection is finally coming into its own today. While the overall feel is organic and hyper-relaxed, Paulin’s obsession for ergonomic precision and craftsmanship can only be fully appreciated by sitting in one of his striking creations. Taking up very little floor space, it is extraordinarily comfortable, and there is also a choice between a fixed or swiveling base. Paulin’s vision of sitting in an entire cloud formation is made possible by the many modular combinations available. The Pacha Ottoman provides extra comfort for the Lounge Chair, or even as an informal seat of its own. Mix and match Pacha Sofa...
Textile
H 28.35 in W 33.08 in D 32.29 in
Orange Slice Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1990s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The famous Artifort Orange Slice Chair by Pierre Paulin, designed in the 60s. This original chair is produced in the 90's. It is a cute and very comfortable chair. The chair is jus...
Steel
H 26.38 in W 35.44 in D 33.47 in
Artifort Mushroom Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin in STOCK
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in New York, NY
Mushroom lounge Tonus (BB) 0464 felt gliders Mushroom F 560 The Mushroom armchair is one of the world’s most famous designs. Designer Pierre Paulin distinguished himself with this a...
Fabric
H 24.81 in W 33.47 in D 26.78 in
Groovy F598 M Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Funky and elegant Mid-Century Modern Groovy F598 M chair. Design by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1973, this version is from the 1980s. Striking French/Dutch design from the 1980s. R...
Metal
H 27.96 in W 32.68 in D 32.68 in
"Orange Slice" Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
An exceptional and original Artifort “Orange Slice” Lounge Chair, designed by the renowned French designer Pierre Paulin. One of the most iconic and sculptural seating designs of th...
Steel
H 25.5 in W 30.3 in D 33.4 in
Pierre Paulin 'Pacha' Lounge Chair with Returning Swivel for GUBI
By Gubi, Pierre Paulin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pierre Paulin 'Pacha' Lounge Chair with Returning Swivel for GUBI Pierre Paulin 'Pacha' lounge chair upholstered in Harp ivory fabric (24- Fabric group A). Paulin designed the 'Pacha' lounge chair in 1975 with the intention of creating a sensation of sitting on clouds. With ivory cotton upholstery and a returning swivel wood base with a pearl gold finish, the curvaceous and low-slung Pacha lounge chair...
Cotton, Wood
H 27.17 in W 32.29 in D 33.08 in
Orange Slice Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The famous Artifort orange slice chair by Pierre Paulin, designed in the 60s. This original chair with chromed legs is produced in the 80s. It is a cute and very comfortable chair. ...
Steel, Chrome
H 27.17 in W 33.08 in D 31.5 in
Orange Slice Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The famous Artifort orange slice chair by Pierre Paulin, designed in the 60's. This is an original and early edition chair with ni...
Nickel
Now synonymous with 1960s and ’70s French chic, the designer conceived his modular modernist furnishings to change the way we decorate.
A new exhibition in Philadelphia stars a complex decade that continues to inspire.
