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Mid-Century Modern Sofa in Hardwood & Leather by Jean Gillon, 1970, Brazil

About the Item

Available now, this very Brazilian modern sofa in black leather and hardwood designed by Jean Gillon in the seventies is simply spectacular! This gorgeous, one-of-a-kind three seat sofa features a solid Brazilian Rosewood (known as Jacaranda) structure with leather belts acting as supporting base for the three loose black leather cushions. Each cushion acts as a seat and backrest in capitone style resulting in a striking though very inviting comfy look. The sofa is 100% disarmable as this version was designed to be sold out of Brazil, as a result the sofa can be packed without taking much space! The restoration of the sofa took four long months because the wood, faux leather and belts were in bad condition. So the first step was to disassemble the sofa and get rid of the termite. This took a few days followed by reinforcing the wood where there was damage. In parallel the hand sewing process got started. For pieces such as this one and others similar like the “Mole” armchair from Sergio Rodrigues or Jangada from Jean Gillon, these pieces have very specific sewing techniques that can only be found in Brazil. So we end up with Manuel and his team, some of the best old school upholsterers Brazil has to offer. This team worked with Sergio Rodrigues for 20 years and have mastered the sewing technique really well. The downside is that it took three months. But the wait was worth it and this upholstery masterpiece was born! Attached some images with the process. This sofa is SO awesome that we’ve paired it with other pieces in the gallery, always looking spectacular. The first furniture set showcases the sofa with two “Concha” armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro and one of Scapinelli’s iconic “spider like” coffee table. The second set features the sofa next to a Jose Zanine Caldas bar, a Michel Arnauld armchair in Imbuia wood and the same spider coffee table. This Brazilian Modern gem has all the fun aspects of a true bold Brazilian Modern piece: a robust wood structure combined with a delicate leather upholstery resulting in a very comfy look. A sofa like these flexes into any Mid-Century Modern, Modern or Contemporary, Transitional, or even Hollywood Regency environment. Size: H35.4, W86.6, D31.5 (in) H90, W220, D80 (cm).

Creator:

Jean Gillon (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 35.4 in (89.92 cm)Width: 86.6 in (219.97 cm)Depth: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Hardwood,Leather,Hand-Crafted,Hand-Knotted

Place of Origin:

South America

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1970s

Condition:

Refinished. Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. New upholstery. The wood has been refinished. Besides the marks of age in the legs the piece is in excellent condition.

Seller Location:

New York, NY

Reference Number:

Seller: 391stDibs: LU7095233179812

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Shop All Jean Gillon

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.