Early Edition Pierre Paulin Three-Seat ABCD Sofa for Artifort, Late 1960s
View Similar Items
Early Edition Pierre Paulin Three-Seat ABCD Sofa for Artifort, Late 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 25.2 in (64 cm)Width: 96.46 in (245 cm)Depth: 29.93 in (76 cm)Seat Height: 14.57 in (37 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Late 1960s
- Condition:Minor fading. Fully reconditioned and newly upholstered a few years ago. The foam is in excellent condition, the Kvadrat Tonus wool fabric is in very good condition overall, except for some minor fading in the back.
- Seller Location:The Hague, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1803310530153
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.
- Esko Pajamies Three-Seat Cantilevered Sofa, Merva, Finland, 1960sBy Merva Merivaara., Esko PajamiesLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare three-seat sofa was designed by Esko Pajamies and produced by the Finnish company Merva in the 1960s. The rectangular shape of the seat, armrests and backrest give the chai...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- Theo Ruth Sofa, Model 115 in Dedar Bouclé and Beech, Artifort, Netherlands, 1958By Dedar, Artifort, Theo RuthLocated in The Hague, NLThis striking sofa was designed by Theo Ruth in 1958. This model numbered 115 was produced by Artifort in the Netherlands. The design is marked by the rounded lines of the upholst...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech
- Angelo Mangiarotti Three Seat Sofa, La Sorgente Dei Mobili, Italy, 1970sBy La Sorgente Dei Mobili, Angelo MangiarottiLocated in The Hague, NLThis very rare three seat sofa was designed by Angelo Mangiarotti and produced by the Italian manufacturer La Sorgente dei Mobili in the early 1970s. The design is marked by the geom...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wool, Linen, Upholstery, Wood, Sapele Wood
- Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen Prisma Sofa, Ludvig Pontoppidan, Denmark, 1963By Raf Simons, Kvadrat, Ludvig Pontoppidan, Tove & Edvard Kindt-LarsenLocated in The Hague, NLThis extremely rare sofa named Prisma was designed by Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen in 1963. It was produced by the cabinetmaker Ludvig Pontoppidan in Denmark. The distinct design is m...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wenge
- Important Otto Schulz Curved Four-Seat Sofa for Boet, Sweden, Mid-1940sBy Otto Schulz, BoetLocated in The Hague, NLThis important curved sofa was designed by Otto Schulz and produced by his company Boet in Gothenburg. The generously sized sofa can comfortably sit four people. The sofa has been ne...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsElm, Pine, Fabric, Bouclé, Chenille, Upholstery
- Rare Fredrik Schriever-Abeln Sofa in Pine and Dark Green Bouclé, Sweden, 1960sBy Fredrik Schriever-AbelnLocated in The Hague, NLThis very rare sofa was designed by Fredrik Schriever-Abeln in the 1960s. This particular model named 'Condor' was produced in Sweden. Schriever Abeln's Condor range consisted of the...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsPine, Bouclé, Upholstery
- Pierre Paulin pair of early three seater ABCD sofas by ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Chiavari, LiguriaA rare pair of Pierre Paulin sofas, labeled and upholstered in their original fabric, belongs to the ABCD series, which was designed in 1968 for Ar...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Space Age Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Fiberglass, Foam
- ABCD Set by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLStunning sculptural ABCD set, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1968. This amazing set consist of one 2-seat sofa and two 1-seat sofa's. The sofa's are composed of three...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsBouclé
$37,270 / set - ABCD 3-Seat Sofa by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, MohairBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Toronto, ONThe ABCD sofa, a design by Pierre Paulin from 1968, stands as a testament to his innovative and forward-thinking design ethos. This sofa is truly unique, characterized by its unconve...Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Sofas
MaterialsAngora, Mohair, Goat Hair
- Pierre Paulin, ABCD Sofa, Purple Velvet, Artifort, Netherlands, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in High Point, NCA purple velvet ABCD sofa designed by Pierre Paulin and produced by Artifort, Netherlands, 1960s. Originally sourced from Turner Limited, 305 East 63rd street, New York.Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
- Pierre Paulin, ABCD Sofa, Red Velvet, Artifort, Netherlands, 1960sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in High Point, NCA red velvet ABCD sofa designed by Pierre Paulin and produced by Artifort, Netherlands, 1960s. Originally sourced from Turner Limited, 305 East 63rd street, New York.Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
- Mid Century ABCD 3-Seater Sofa by Pierre Paulin for ArtifortBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLAmazing sculptural three-seater ABCD sofa, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1968. The sofa is composed of three separate segments characterized by the wave-shaped curves. Th...Category
Early 2000s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
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.