Groovy Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
View Similar Items
Groovy Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Pierre Paulin (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 24.8 in (63 cm)Width: 33.5 in (85.09 cm)Depth: 26.8 in (68.08 cm)Seat Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Haderslev, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1948318178252
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 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.
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. You will see on 1stDibs that Pierre Paulin’s creations have a unique personality: bright and playful yet sophisticated and suave.
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.
- President Lounge Chair by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius, Denmark 1970sBy Steen Ostergaard, Poul CadoviusLocated in Haderslev, DKIconic lounge chair from the 1970s by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius. The model is called President lounge chair. It has been fully r...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFelt, Fiberglass
- Set of Two Bossa Lounge Chairs Designed by Bonetto and Stoppino New UpholsteryBy Giotto Stoppino, Rodolfo BonettoLocated in Haderslev, DKRare set of easy chairs by Rodolfo Bonetto and Giotto Stoppino for Industria Talisio Arredamenti, Italy 1970. Very comfortable easy or lounge chairs with brand new upholstery. We...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Fiberglass
- Vintage space age Rodica chair by Mario Brunu for Comfort, Italy 1968.By Comfort, Italy, Mario BrunuLocated in Haderslev, DKElevate your living space with the timeless elegance of the 'Rodica' lounge chair, a mid-century masterpiece designed by Mario Bruno for Comfort Italy. Crafted with exquisite attenti...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Fiberglass
- Set of Two Yellow Targa Chairs by Klaus Uredat for Horn Collection, GermanyBy Klaus UredatLocated in Haderslev, DKThis special set of two Targa chairs has been designed by Klaus Uredat for Horn Collection early 1970s. Made from composite fiberglass and has been restore...Category
Vintage 1970s German Space Age Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass
- Set of Two 1-2-3 Deluxe Armrest Chairs by Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen, 1970sBy Fritz Hansen, Verner PantonLocated in Haderslev, DKVerner Panton 1-2-3 Deluxe set of two chairs for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, early 1970s. Low back 1-2-3 Deluxe with armrest both fully original with bottle green colored fabric. P...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Unique Galaxy Swivel Chair by DUX of SwedenBy Alf Svensson & Yngve Sandström, Dux of SwedenLocated in Haderslev, DKProduced in the period from 1970-1979 by Alf Svensson and Yngve Sandström for DUX of Sweden. This unique swivel chair has been totally renewed w...Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Plastic
- Artifort Groovy F598 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin (Cobalt Blue)By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLArtifort Groovy F598 or M lounge chairs by Pierre Paulin in one of our favourite colours: Cobalt Blue. Paulin designed these in 1960 for Castelli - Italy. Dutch manufacturer Artifort...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery
- F-444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Waalwijk, NLEasy chair by Pierre Paulin, metal and mesh, F444, the Netherlands, circa 1962. This mesh F-444 chair is designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1962. This chair shows sharp lines...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- F-444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Dronten, NLEasy chair by Pierre Paulin, metal and mesh, F444, the Netherlands, circa 1965. This mesh F-444 chair is designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1962. This chair shows sharp lines...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin, M-ChairBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The Tongue chair, the Ribbon chair, the Tulip — to name but a few — all feature in museums such as the MOMA New York and Centre Pompidou Paris. Originally designed in the 1972, his famous F598 Groovy...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Space Age Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Groovy Chair 'or F598' by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1970sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Appeltern, GelderlandFrance’s top designer Pierre Paulin designed the groovy chair (or F598) for Artifort. Great comfort and a timeless and iconic design. Reupholstered with Kvadrat Outback fabric color ...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pierre Paulin F598 Groovy Armchair for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in The Hague, NLGroovy lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin in 1972 and manufactured for Artifort, Holland. Model No: F598, or also known as "M" chair. Chair has been newly reupholstered high qual...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
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.