The architect Pierre Guariche (1926–95) was one of the leading modern furniture and lighting designers of postwar France. Throughout his career he showed a consistent talent for producing elegant, eye-catching forms using a minimum of materials. With his lean and angular chairs and slender, sculptural lamps, he helped introduce a new aesthetic to the country’s interiors — and he was an eager pioneer in the use of new industrial materials and production techniques that emerged in the 1950s. In 1957, Guariche became the artistic director of Belgian manufacturer Meurop, a company that strived to create refined yet economical pieces of furniture. This saw a turn in Guariche’s work, where he began to embrace more biomorphic silhouettes and utilize affordable materials such as plywood and plastics.

DATE

c.1957-1959

MATERIALS

Birch Plywood, Brass

DIMENSIONS

91.5 x 44.5 x 49.5 cm

STYLE

Historic

HERITAGE

Belgium