Mushroom Set by Pierre Paulin Produced by Artifort
View Similar Items
Mushroom Set by Pierre Paulin Produced by Artifort
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Pierre Paulin (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.6 in (65 cm)Diameter: 31.5 in (80 cm)Seat Height: 25.6 in (65 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1963
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:Seller: 16161stDibs: LU206535456383
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.
- Armchair by Pierre CHAPO from the 1970s, S15 MODELBy Pierre ChapoLocated in Paris, FRS15 armchair by Pierre Chapo in solid wood and white cream fabric (Lelièvre - Sherpas Craie). The elm structure is made by interlocking and assembling pieces, typical of Pierre Chapo...Category
Vintage 1970s European Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Elm
- Smoke - Little Albert armchair by Ron Arad, hand-painted, Signed AmaneBy Ron AradLocated in Paris, FR"Smoke" - "Little Albert" armchair by Ron Arad in polyethylene hand-decorated with black lines and lacquered, signed Amane. One-piece seat and back form a flat base. The "Little Albert" armchair - one of the designer's most important and emblematic pieces - has a highly original graphic presence, with its tonic, contemporary lines and the geometric purity of its structure. This unique design piece features a modern painted and lacquered black and white decor. This unique piece, with its contemporary design and pure curves, is entirely hand-decorated. Extremely light and resistant, it can be moved from living room to terrace, indoors or out. The oval opening in the backrest makes it easy to handle. Structure in polyester resin reinforced with a steel support. This unique piece is the result of a collaboration between Galerie Atena...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Pop - Little Albert armchair by Ron Arad, hand-painted, Signed AmaneBy Ron AradLocated in Paris, FR"Pop" - "Little Albert" armchair by Ron Arad in hand-decorated and colored polyethylene, then lacquered, signed Amane. The fresh, colorful and pop décor created by artist Amane is inspired by the curves and lines of the armchair, giving this unique piece a truly modern touch. One-piece seat and back form a flat base. With its contemporary graphic lines and the geometric purity of its structure, the "Little Albert" armchair - one of the designer's major and emblematic pieces - is highly original. Very light, it can be moved from the living room to the terrace. The oval opening in the backrest makes it easy to handle. Its wide seat and flowing lines ensure optimum comfort. Design Ron ARAD (Tel-Aviv, 1951). Edition MOROSO, 2000. Signed by Amane Babikian, a talented young artist with many passions. She brilliantly combines a career as a national team Ultimate champion with training as an ornamental gilder. She took up the challenge offered by Galerie Atena...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Pair of Velvet Bergère Chairs, 1950sLocated in Paris, FRPair of imposing ocher velvet bergère chairs manufactured in the 1950s, with gilt metal arched legs. The shepherdess is a large, comfortable armchair whose solid sides go up to the b...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bergere Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$3,844 / set - Four Peacock Blue Velvet Armchairs from the Louis XV PeriodLocated in Paris, FRThis is a set of four Louis XV period armchairs in walnut wood. They are molded and carved with flowers. Each chair rests on four arched legs and has two sinuous armrests. Three of t...Category
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Walnut
- Bronze bust of a naked man by Pierre ChenetBy Pierre ChenetLocated in Paris, FRProof in bronze with a nuanced brown-green patina, representing the bust of a bare, muscular man. This is a signed edition cast made by the author himself. Indeed, Pierre Chenet stil...Category
Vintage 1980s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Mushroom Armchair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLStunning Mushroom set, designed by Pierre Paulin and fabricated by Artifort in the 60s. This very comfortable and cosy set is just covered with beautiful and the highest quality ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- Mushroom Armchair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLStunning Mushroom set, designed by Pierre Paulin and fabricated by Artifort in the 60’s. This very comfortable and cosy set is just covered with beaut...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- Mushroom Armchair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLStunning Artifort Mushroom set, designed by Pierre Paulin in the 60’s. This very comfortable and cosy set is just covered with beautiful and high qual...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- Mushroom Armchair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLVery comfortable and cosy Artifort Mushroom set, designed by Pierre Paulin in the 60’s. Covered with stunning and high quality wool fabric. The ch...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé
- Mid Century "Big" Mushroom Armchair and Pouf by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLComfort at the utmost! This very rare Big Mushroom set is designed by Pierre Paulin and fabricated by Artifort in the 60's. Covered with lovely and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé, Foam, Wood
- Customizable Artifort Mushroom P Stool by Pierre PaulinBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in New York, NYThe Mushroom P. for Artifort is one of Pierre Paulin’s most famous designs. First there was the Mushroom armchair, that is now exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Then...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Ottomans and Poufs
MaterialsTextile
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.