Pierre Paulin Artifort Ribbon Lounge Armchair
View Similar Items
Pierre Paulin Artifort Ribbon Lounge Armchair
About the Item
- Creator:Pierre Paulin (Designer),Artifort (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)Width: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Depth: 27.25 in (69.22 cm)Seat Height: 16.63 in (42.25 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1966
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good strong and sturdy, no noticeable defects, one small faint, spot on left arm, shown in photo, no tears to the upholstery, foam in good condition.
- Seller Location:Baltimore, MD
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5065121201552
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.
- Mid Century Mushroom Stool by Pierre Paulin for Artifort Netherlands 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Baltimore, MDMid century original, Mushroom pouf stool, or ottoman designed by Pierre Paulin by Artifort. Features original woven cream wool upholstery. Uniquely sculpted in an organic shape addi...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Pair of Midcentury Lounge Club ArmchairsBy Tobia ScarpaLocated in Baltimore, MDA pair of exceptional Mid-Century Modern low upholstered and padded club armchairs in the style of Tobia Scarpa. Featuring subtly striped button-tufted...Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
$1,436 Sale Price / set20% Off - Midcentury Milo Baughman Style Chrome Lounge ChairBy Milo BaughmanLocated in Baltimore, MDThis is a very high quality modern lounge chair sophisticated and elegant, clearly reminiscent of the designs of Milo Baughman. It is expertly upholstered with soft padded back and s...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$1,516 Sale Price20% Off - Midcentury Chrome Lounge Chairs Milo Baughman Style PairBy Milo BaughmanLocated in Baltimore, MDThis gorgeous pair of chrome lounge chairs are of remarkably high quality, by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. They have been maintained in a single collection since the original own...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$2,096 Sale Price / set30% Off - Midcentury Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Chrome T Back Lounge ChairBy Milo Baughman, Thayer CogginLocated in Baltimore, MDStunning Mid-Century Modern T-back lounge chair designed by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin, circa 1970s. This gorgeous club chair, known for its floating cube look, is newly upholst...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$2,960 Sale Price20% Off - Mid Century Kipp Stewart “Arc Lounge Chairs” for DirectionalBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Baltimore, MDA stunning pair of mid-century modern 1960s “Arc” lounge chairs designed by Kipp Stewart for Directional furniture. An exceptional pair, both for their form and quality. The pair emb...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Customizable Artifort Ribbon Lounge Chair by Pierre PaulinBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in New York, NYA completely upholstered design by Pierre Paulin from 1966 and a professional, innovative vision on the well-known ribbon form. Metal frame with horizontal springs, covered with foam...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTextile
- Customizable Artifort Ribbon Chair by Pierre PaulinBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in New York, NYA completely upholstered design by Pierre Paulin from 1966 and a professional, innovative vision on the well-known ribbon form. Metal frame with horizontal springs, covered with foam...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTextile
$9,808 / item - "Ribbon" Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis iconic and innovative ribbon chair and matching ottoman designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort is a stunning organic form of contoured tubular steel that is ergonomically design...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort Pierre Paulin Blue Ribbon Velvet Lounge Chair in StockBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in New York, NYA completely upholstered design by Pierre Paulin from 1966 and a professional, innovative vision on the well-known ribbon form. Metal frame with horizontal springs, covered with foam...Category
2010s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet
$8,119 Sale Price20% Off - Pair Pierre Paulin Ribbon Chairs for ArtifortBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Dallas, TXOriginal pair of ribbon chairs model 582, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort. A striking, space-age form with curving planes. Incredible swoo...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Wood
$21,500 / set - Pair of Pierre Paulin Ribbon Chair by ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Chicago, ILPair of Artifort Pierre Paulin ribbon chairs model 582 with contoured tubular steel shape. Space age form with curling sides and molded comfortable upholstered loop chair floating on...Category
Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
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.