The Togo sofa isn’t the only piece of furniture Michel Ducaroy designed, but it is certainly the one that he will be long remembered for. The cozy, crumpled pillow-like sofa seems never to go out of style, and its features encapsulate Ducaroy’s design philosophy of combining ergonomics and comfort with high-tech synthetic materials like foam, quilting and thermoformed plastics.
Ducaroy was born into a family of French furniture manufacturers who specialized in residential interiors as well as fittings for ocean liners. However, he elected to study sculpture at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, and this foundation would greatly influence his work and the way he thought about shape and form. Ducaroy worked at the family business and later founded his design studio in 1952.
In 1954, Ducaroy began working with Ligne Roset, the French family-run manufacturing giant known across the world for creating high-end seating. There, he was able to propel the research and development of their designs, and his work quickly became integral to the company’s identity.
Ducaroy’s innovations with thermoformed plastics and biomorphic forms can be seen in early designs for Ligne Roset in the ’60s and ’70s, like the cozy, modular Adria chair and low-sitting Kashima sofa. He designed the Togo furniture line in 1973 using an innovative all-foam seating structure that was covered with polyester; decades later the Togo sofa remains a Ligne Roset best seller.
The low rise and unique curve of any Ducaroy sofa make it instantly recognizable, and the distinctly Pop art–inspired, organic forms that the celebrated designer created from synthetic materials like polyester and foam made a powerful statement at their inception, as they continue to do now.
Find a collection of new and vintage Michel Ducaroy sofas, lounge chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
H 28 in W 39 in D 39 in
Black Leather Corner Togo Seat by Ligne Roset, 1980s France
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An iconic Togo corner seat in black leather, designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset. Introduced in 1973, the Togo remains one of the most recognizable pieces in postwar French fu...
Leather
H 11.42 in W 13.39 in D 15.36 in
Black Leather Fireside Togo Seat by Ligne Roset, 1980s France
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The ultimate icon of modern comfort: an authentic Ligne Roset Togo Fireside Lounge Chair. Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1973, the Togo remains one of the most recognizable and covete...
Leather
H 27.56 in W 40.16 in D 40.16 in
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” Two Seater Sofa for Ligne Roset, Black Leather, 1973
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” two-seater sofa for Ligne Roset, black leather and foam, France, 1973. Togo, by Ligne Roset, is a historic concept, designed in 1973 by Michel Ducaroy, with an...
Leather, Foam
H 29 in W 68 in D 39 in
Black Leather 3 Seater Togo Sofa by Ligne Roset, 1980s France
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A masterwork of postmodern French design, this three-seat Togo sofa was designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973 and remains one of the most iconic silhouettes of 20th-cent...
Leather, Fabric
H 27.56 in W 68.9 in D 40.16 in
Togo Sofa 3 seater - Michel Ducaroy Ligne Roset black Leather made in France
By Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy
Located in Munster, NRW
Togo Sofa - Michel Ducaroy 1974 for Ligne Roset. 3-seater Sofa - manufactured in France. Made by Ligne Roset about 1990 in France, beautiful original condition in soft black leather...
Leather
H 29.53 in W 92.52 in D 39.38 in
Stunning black leather Kashima sofa 1985 by Michel Ducaroy - Ligne Roset France
By Michel Ducaroy
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Kashima Sofa, Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, 1985 All-Foam Tufted Leather Sofa in Original Black Leather The Kashima sofa, designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, is a mastercl...
Leather
H 29 in W 53 in D 39 in
Black Leather 2 Seater Togo Sofa by Ligne Roset, 1980s France
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Togo 2 seater designed by Michel Ducaory for Ligne Roset — one of the most instantly recognizable seating designs of the postwar era. Built without any internal wood or metal frame, ...
Leather, Fabric
H 27.56 in W 51.58 in D 38.59 in
Two Seat Togo Sofa, black Leather by Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset, France
Located in Berlin, DE
Two seater Togo sofa, black leather by Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset, France, Originally designed in the 1970s, the iconic Togo sofa is now a design class...
Leather
H 28.75 in W 70.87 in D 41.34 in
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” Three Seater Sofa for Ligne Roset, Black Leather, 1973
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” three-seater sofa for Ligne Roset, black leather and foam, France, 1973. Togo, by Ligne Roset, is a historic concept, designed in 1973 by Michel Ducaroy, with ...
Leather, Foam
H 28 in W 38 in D 48 in
Leather Togo 2-Seater Sofa by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset
By Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful authentic midnight black leather Togo Settee designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset from the 1970s.
Leather
Late 19th Century Chinese Canton Porcelain Table Lamp, Famille Rose
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
Late 19th century Chinese Canton porcelain vase, later converted into a table lamp. This finely hand-painted Famille Rose porcelain vase features traditional court scenes within sha...
Metal, Brass
Large French Vintage Meccanaval "Wandera" Yacht Model, circa 1960
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
An impressive large-scale handcrafted model of the Meccanaval "Wandera" Diesel Yacht, built from the original Meccanaval/MRB plans during the 1960s. Measuring approximately 150 cm (...
Metal, Brass
Large Handmade Scale Model of the French Fishing Trawler "Galaxie", MRB Plans
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
A superb large-scale handcrafted model of the French fishing trawler Galaxie, meticulously built in 1995 from the original MRB (Modèle Réduit de Bateau) plans by J.C. Chazarain, prod...
Metal, Brass
Large Handcrafted Santa Maria Wooden Ship Model by Mantua Model
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
Exceptional handcrafted scale model of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship, meticulously built from the renowned Mantua Model (Italy) kit and completed in 1995. This mus...
Metal, Brass
Large Hand-Painted Ceramic Charger by Maria Lluis for Sant Vicens, Perpignan, Fr
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
A striking large hand-painted ceramic wall charger created by Maria Lluis for the renowned Sant Vicens pottery workshop in Perpignan, France. This expressive composition depicts blo...
Ceramic
Large Handcrafted HMS Bounty Wooden Ship Model by Sergal / Mantua, 1/
Located in MONTPELLIER, FR
A large and finely detailed wooden model of the historic HMS Bounty, completed in 1992 from an Italian Sergal / Mantua Model kit. The model features an extensively detailed wooden h...
Metal, Brass
