Set of Eight Pierre Paulin Tulip Chairs for Artifort
View Similar Items
Set of Eight Pierre Paulin Tulip Chairs for Artifort
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Pierre Paulin (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)Seat Height: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 8
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970-1979
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs need to be reupholstered, we can help if wanted. The bases have normal wear.
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU188835820753
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 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.
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.
- Set of Eight Designer ChairsBy Maarten van SeverenLocated in Miami, FLSet of Eight Designer Chairs, stackable. Beautiful design , most likely made of ash.Category
Early 2000s American Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsAsh
$1,600 / set - Set of Eight Mart Stam Gray Leather Chairs for Fasem, Italy 1980sBy Fasem International, Mart Stam, Stendig Co.Located in Miami, FLSet of Eight Mart Stam Gray Leather Chairs for Fasem, sold by Stendig. Two arm and six side chairs. Made in Italy 1980s. Arm chairs are 22.75” wide.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Set of Six Dining Chairs Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet, BentwoodBy Bruno Weil, ThonetLocated in Miami, FLSet of Six Dining Chairs Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet in the 1960s, oak plywood with a walnut lacquer finish. Ready for a new home, we have another set available.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood, Plywood
- Set of 6 Chairs Designed by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, Walnut, Red VinylBy Carlo De Carli, CassinaLocated in Miami, FLSet of 6 chairs Mod. 693, Designed by Carlo de Carli for Cassina. All original condition. Solid walnut and red vinyl. We can help if buyer wants seats and backs recovered.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Walnut
- Set of Six Malmo Dining Chairs by Michal Riabic for Ton, BentwoodLocated in Miami, FLSet of Six Malmo Dining Chairs by Michal Riabic for Ton, Bentwood. Ready for a new home.Category
Early 2000s Czech Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWood, Bentwood
- Set of Four Designer Dining Chairs, BentwoodLocated in Miami, FLSet of Four Designer Dining Chairs. Bentwood seats and backs. Interesting design, matching dining table available. Ready for a new home.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBirch, Bentwood
$1,800 / set
- 1st Edition 'Tulip' Dining Set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands, 1965By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Pijnacker, Zuid-HollandVery rare and complete 1st edition dinner set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands – 1965. This is a rare and complete 1st edition set. The chairs swivel. The table top has been professionally refinished in the same colour. The fabric is still original but shows a lot of staining. The legs have some normal signs of age and us. This set is extremely rare and could feature in a Paulin / Artifort museum or dedicated art show. Reupholstery on request. Designer: Pierre Paulin (France) Manufacturer: ARTIFORT (Netherlands) Country: Netherlands Model: Tulip table and chairs...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Big Tulip Chair Set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLA set with 2 very comfortable and original Big Tulip lounge chairs. These chairs are designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1965. This low version without head rest is a rare...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set of 4 Little Tulip Armchairs by Pierre Paulin for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLSet of 4 Little Tulip Armchairs. These cute and very comfortable armchairs are designed by the famous French designer Pierre Paulin in the 60's. ...Category
2010s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Customizable Artifort Moulin Chair Designed by Pierre PaulinBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in New York, NYA good, old-fashioned chair designed by the late Pierre Paulin. Previously in the collection of Thonet France, it now completes the Artifort collection. The design of the Moulin date...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTextile
- Mid-Century Set/12 Little Tulip Armchairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980sBy Pierre PaulinLocated in Almelo, NLMid-Century Set/12 Little Tulip Armchairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, The Netherlands 1980s The swivel Little Tulip chair, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in the Netherlan...Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsAluminum, Steel
- Pierre Paulin “Big Tulip” Chair for Artifort, Netherlands 1960By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Amsterdam, NLA stunning lounge chair, model “Big Tulip”, designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in the Netherlands around 1960. This eye-catching piece has a beautiful elegant st...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
At Château La Coste, Pierre Paulin’s Visionary Home Concept Finally Comes to Life
Now synonymous with 1960s and ’70s French chic, the designer conceived his modular modernist furnishings to change the way we decorate.
Exploring Our Current Obsession with Sixties Style
A new exhibition in Philadelphia stars a complex decade that continues to inspire.