Desk in Solid Hardwood, by Jean Gillon, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern

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Desk in Solid Hardwood, by Jean Gillon, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern

About the Item

Jean Gillon is a highly significant figure in Brazilian furniture design during the mid-20th century. Born in Romenia, Gillon moved to Brazil in the 1950's, where he became an influential designer and manufacturer of modern furniture. He is known for his use of Brazilian materials and his appreciation for Brazilian cultural aesthetics, which he blended with European design principles to create unique pieces of furniture. Gillon’s work often featured the use of local hardwoods, such as this desk. This wood is known for its strength and beautiful, rich grains, which add depth and warmth to the furniture. The desk has a clean, rectilinear form with a thick tabletop, giving it a substantial presence. The legs are sturdy and straightforward, emphasizing the robust quality of the wood. One side of the desk features a bank of drawers, which are flush with the frame and showcase the wood's natural grain. The drawers' handles are discreet, ensuring that the wood itself is the focal point. This kind of attention to detail and material is characteristic of Gillon's design ethos. The simplicity of the design, combined with the quality of materials and construction, is reflective of the modernist design movement that was prevalent during the mid-20th century. Furniture pieces from this era were designed to be functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, without unnecessary ornamentation. Jean Gillon's furniture is highly sought after by collectors and design aficionados for its historical significance, craftsmanship, and beauty. As a designer, Gillon's work contributed to the global recognition of Brazilian design and its unique approach to modernism. This writing table is a fine example of his work, embodying the elegance and simplicity that defines mid-century modern Brazilian furniture.

Creator:
Jean Gillon (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 63 in (160 cm)Depth: 30.71 in (78 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Hardwood
Place of Origin:
Brazil
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1960's
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Sao Paulo, BR
Reference Number:
Seller: 69071stDibs: LU3173338187552

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.