Charlotte Perriand, French Mid-Century Modern, Dining Chairs, Distressed Leather

A pioneer of modernism in France, Charlotte Perriand was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design and architecture. In her long career, Perriand’s aesthetic grammar constantly evolved, moving from the tubular steel furniture of the Machine Age to a lyrical naturalism that is reflected in her enduring designs for chairs, sconces, daybeds and other works.

Perriand’s studies at the Ecole de L'Union Centrale de Arts Decoratifs left her enthralled by Charles-Édouard "Le Corbusier" Jeanneret and his vision of a new, rational architecture. In 1924, she joined his studio to design furniture along with Pierre Jeanneret, Corbu’s partner and cousin.

Together, they devised some of the finest examples of early modernist furniture, including two icons of the era: the B306 chaise — later renamed the LC4 — with its swooping frame and hide upholstery; and the chunky, steel-framed Grand Confort club chair. Both pieces were part of the LC line, which saw the trio of designers carrying out bold experiments with tubular chromed steel, just as architect and Bauhaus faculty member Marcel Breuer had executed with his cantilever Cesca chair around the same time. (Furniture created by Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret was originally produced by Austrian manufacturer Thonet but Italian firm Cassina acquired the production and sales rights to their works in 1964.) 

Collaborative design produced another Perriand triumph: in the early 1950s, she and Jean Prouvé were engaged to produce desks, worktables and bookcases for the University of Paris. The bookcases — slim pine shelves with brightly painted aluminum dividers — are minimalist mid-century masterpieces.

By the end of that decade, Perriand’s aesthetic had changed completely from the earliest days of her career. She produced a series of furniture in ebonized wood: chairs with gentle S-curve legs, front and back; tables with elliptical tops. In the 1960s, Perriand pushed the boundaries of prefab to produce high-quality housing and furnishings at low cost for the French ski resort Les Arcs. She also adopted an almost rustic look at the time, designing simple chairs with dowel-cut frames and rush seats. 

Everything in Perriand’s oeuvre is beautiful, whether it’s the centerpiece of a décor or an accent, and her work is in every great design collection, public and private.

The vintage Charlotte Perriand furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes stools, coffee tables, case pieces, lighting and more.

Dal Vera furniture is all about bringing breezy style indoors. Through its mid-century modern pieces, this Italian manufacturer expanded the depth and breadth of materials used for interior furniture design. The company’s exceptional dining room tables, chairs and chests of drawers feature beautiful woven wicker, rattan and other natural fibers that are more commonly found in relaxed outdoor pieces.

Based in Conegliano in the Veneto region of Italy, Dal Vera was founded in 1884 by Antonio Dal Vera and produced an extensive collection of living and dining room furniture. During its peak in the mid-20th century, Italian designer Flam Sansoni created much of the furniture for the company. Materials like bamboo, glass and leather also featured heavily in its inventive designs, as did brass hardware and handles. Dal Vera’s postwar creations have a more typically mid-century modern appeal, with clean and angular lines inspired by Scandinavian designers such as Hans Wegner. Over the years, the company’s pieces took on a Bohemian style, keeping up with the trends of the time.

Throughout the early 1980s, Dal Vera dining room chairs were used by the Les Arcs ski resort in Savoie, France. They were personally selected by the influential French designer and architect Charlotte Perriand. The company’s high-quality pieces remain in demand with collectors today.

On 1stDibs, find Dal Vera case pieces, seating, tables and more.