Raphaël Raffel French Mid-Century Modern Club Chair, 1960s

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Raphaël Raffel French Mid-Century Modern Club Chair, 1960s

About the Item

Ivory fiberglass resin club chair designed by Raphael Raffel (known as Raphaël), France, 1970s in tulip style. A rounded seat, original leatherette upholstery. This listing is for one off-white chair. The yellow chairs are sold. Raphaël Raffel, best known as Raphaël, was born in Paris in 1912. Much like some of his contemporaries André Arbus, Jacques Adnet and Jules Leleu, Raphaël found inspiration in the décor of the eighteenth century. In the 1940s, his work became synonymous with the status of the “ensembliers-décorateurs,” or a true designer of an interior space in its totality. In this way, Raphaël was not only a creator of singular items of furniture, but he controlled the decoration of walls, the lighting, and every other element on display within an interior space. By the 1950s Raphaël was well-established as a collaborator with other French designers. In 1952, his work was shown alongside designs by Georges Jouve in the Salon des Arts Ménagers, and in the same year he and André Arbus were given the joint task of decorating a portion of the grand ocean liner, Le Bretagne. Beyond this Raphaël also became known in his own right for elegant combinations of lacquer, distinctive coloring, glasswork and gilt bronze. His use of refined materials and impeccable execution recall the Louis XVI period. The present sideboard epitomizes this sense of elegance through the use of “laque de Béka,” a technique that was created as an imitation of the lacquer work of China and Japan, and which reproduces the unique colors that were specific to only this type of lacquer. By the 1960s, Raphaél became inspired by Italian and American Space Age design, the clean lines and new materials of Mid-Century Modern, and these chairs are wonderful examples of the contemporary styles of the time but with an academic and historical understanding of proportion, form, material. It's difficult to convey this in the photos, but these chairs have a grace and sophistication that is particular to the French tradition. They are relatively low to the ground, the blossom opens upward and quite rapidly, with the textile applied with attention to detail. Again, difficult to convey in photos, but let me put it this way: If Aarnio's designs are Barbarella and Austin Powers, Saarinen's tulips are Mad Men, Raphaël's resin Space Age chair would be Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Measures: 24" W × 29" D × 28" H.

Creator:
Raphael Raffel (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Faux Leather,Fiberglass
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1965
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. fair vintage condition. Age appropriate wear.
Seller Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU4190317311002

Shop All Raphael Raffel

Raphael Raffel

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.

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