Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Jean Gillon
View Similar Items
Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Jean Gillon
About the Item
- Creator:Jean Gillon (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 84 in (213.36 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Fully restored.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: 6461stDibs: LU91879315381
Jean Gillon
Although he was Romanian by birth, architect and designer Jean Gillon’s heart and soul belonged to his adopted country of Brazil. The country’s culture and revered architecture served as a muse for his mid-century furniture designs. Today Gillon ranks among the most interesting figures in Brazilian modernism, which is characterized by sensual forms and beautifully handcrafted chairs, tables and cabinets built from exotic hardwoods.
Gillon was born in Iasi and graduated from the city’s George Enescu National University of the Arts. He then moved to Paris, where he studied tapestry, worked at the newspaper Le Monde as a cartoonist and moonlighted as a set designer for the Paris Opera Ballet. He eventually left Paris for Vienna, where he studied architecture at the School of Industrial Arts, known today as the University of Applied Arts. In the early 1950s, Gillon was a visiting lecturer at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts.
In 1956, Gillon moved with his wife and two daughters to São Paulo, where he developed a passion for Brazilian architecture, namely the work of modernists such as celebrated architect Lina Bo Bardi and designer José Zanine Caldas. Gillon took on interior decorating projects and formed the Fábrica de Móveis Cidam, which later became Italma Wood Art, in order to design furniture for his clients. Gillon’s furnishings, produced at Italma and also in collaboration with manufacturers such as Probel, were immensely popular and could be found in the planned capital city of Brasilia, a project launched in 1956 by Oscar Niemeyer.
Gillon designed everything from bowls and baskets to centerpieces, tables and other objects and furniture. However, he was best known for his lounge chairs and sofas, including his iconic Jangada chair. Named for the Portuguese word for traditional Brazilian fishing boats, the award-winning Jangada was framed in jacaranda in the late 1960s. The welcoming seat of Gillon’s visually striking trapezoidal lounge chair features plush leather cushions that are supported by nylon fishing rope.
Gillon continued to produce furniture for Italma Wood Art until he retired in 2003. He died in 2007, and today Gillon’s pieces remain highly covetable among interior designers and collectors of modern furniture.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Jean Gillon seating, decorative objects and serveware.
- Brazilian Rosewood Sofa Black Leather, 1960Located in Chicago, ILBrazilian rosewood sofa black leather, 1960. Completely restores and upholstered in black leather. This piece is composed of solid rosewood struct...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Black Leathe/Rosewood “920 Sofa”, Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy 1960By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Chicago, ILBlack Leather/Rosewood “920 Sofa”, Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy 1960Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Dunbar Model 7350 Sofas by Edward WormleyBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Chicago, ILDunbar Model 7350 sofas by Edward Wormley. Vintage 1970’s sofas with more recent grey & pink silk upholstery.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSilk
$9,500 / set - Dunbar Tete a Tete Sofa by Edward Wormley, 1960By Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Chicago, ILDunbar Tete a Tete Sofa by Edward Wormley, 1960. Newly reupholstered in a beautiful cut velvet. Tete a Tete is also on casters. Measures 91" long, 2...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
- 3 Piece Modular Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Preview, 1988By Vladimir Kagan, PreviewLocated in Chicago, IL3 Piece Modular sectional sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Preview, 1988. Original white fabric is in good condition. There is a spot on one cushi...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Dunbar “Kips Bay Sofa” by John SaladinoBy Dunbar Furniture, John SaladinoLocated in Chicago, ILDunbar “Kips Bay Sofa” by John Saladino edited by Stanley Tigerman for an interior.Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
MaterialsSilk
- Jean Gillon "Rodeio" sofa, Brazil, 1960sBy Jean GillonLocated in Stockholm, SEProduced in the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil. Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was born in Lasi, Romania. In 1956, already possessing a consistent portfolio, he moved to São Paulo, where he dev...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
Price Upon Request - BraziLIAN Rosewood and White Leather Sofa by Jean Gillon for Probel S.A.By Jean Gillon, ProbelLocated in Buffalo, NYBraziLIAN Rosewood and White Leather Sofa by Jean Gillon for Probel S.A... Classic Modernist 1970's design.. Extremely comfortable.. Superior quality and construction.Retains its o...Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Chic Vintage Leather Jean Gillon Amazonas Italma Brazilian Rosewood Sofa ModernBy Jean GillonLocated in Pemberton, NJChic vintage Jean Gillon Italma Brazilian leather and Rosewood Amazonas sofa. This sofa measures 85" W × 34" D × 30" H and the seat height is 14". Decal manufacturer's label to the ...Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsRosewood, Leather, Rope
- Rare Brazilian Sofa & Lounge Chairs Set by Jean GillonBy Jean GillonLocated in Kensington, MDMid Century Modern as only the Brazilian designers do it! Rosewood frame with plush tufted leather cushions. Set includes a sofa and two lounge chairs. *Due to time, labor costs, ...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsRosewood, Leather
Price Upon Request - Jean Gillon Sofa Produced by Wood Art in BrazilBy Jean GillonLocated in Limhamn, Skåne länRare sofa designed by Jean Gillon. Produced by Wood Art in Brazil.Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Jean Gillon Rodeio sofa Italma Woodart Brazil 1965By Jean Gillon, Italma Wood ArtLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantTypical Brazilian modern sofa model 'Rodeio' designed by Jean Gillon and manufactured by Italma Woodart, Brazil 1965. This sofa features a sturdy rosewood frame in a rich brown-red h...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood