CORNER BOOKCASE, c.1942
The bookshelf designed for the new Cité universitaire de Nancy met the requirements for durability and economy laid down in the call for tenders in 1930. Like other items of furniture created for the same brief, it comprised a metal frame painted dark red with components in solid polished wood. This self-supporting unit was intended to hang on a wall or stand on the floor.
A few years later the principle was adapted to a bookshelf specially designed for Pierre Chartreux, owner of the Vauconsant firm to which Ateliers Jean Prouvé subcontracted the making of wooden furniture: three triangular bent steel uprights, whose upper edge was cut on a slant, held five angled wooden shelves, one of which was wider than the others and served as a writing table.

“CITÉ” ARMCHAIR, 1930
The easy chair created in 1930 for the new University dormitory in Nancy was the first small-series model to come out of the Ateliers Jean Prouvé. This model drew on Prouvé’s designs and prototypes for the mechanically complex, adjustable easy chairs taht were being individually made at the same time. This armchair met the requirements of a different market for « reading » chairs combining economy, solidity and easy maintenance.

GUERIDON BAS, 1942
Although they showed slight differences in size and detailing, the few examples of the guéridon bas marketed during the War already possessed all the characteristics of the model that went perfectly with the « Cité » Armchair.

“Few curators can lay claim to transforming the market view of a designer’s entire body of work. With Galerie Patrick Seguin, the French dealer has taken Jean Prouvé in to the mainstream and also brought lesser-known works by Charlotte Perriand, Jean Royère, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret into the public eye.”

Niemeyer built Brasilia (1960),Le Corbusier’s and his cousin Jeanneret, Chandigarh (1966). When India became independent (1947), Nehru commissioned the latter to lay out Punjab’s capital. They designed everything, down to the furniture for public buildings. Architectural plans, photos, letters— Le Corbusier’s biggest project is fully revealed. Edifying.

The latter comes from the famous chandigarh project. In 1947 with India’s independence, Nehru decided to commission a contemporary architect for the creation of the new capital of the Punjab region, soon to become Chandigarh. Le Corbusier’s project was meant to illustrate the bright future of this new country. The project also included the creation of all the furniture of administrative buildings and housing. For this creation Le Corbusier chose his cousin and lifelong collaborator, Pierre Jeanneret. Both of the architects-designers’ styles remained eminently modern yet respectful of Indian savoir-faire and craftsmanship.

Established in 1989 in a 300sqm space designed by the architect Jean Nouvel, the gallery showcases the talent of French designers of the XXth century such as Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier and Jean Royère. Today, their creations are recognized as major contributions to the history of design. Along with a program of exhibitions devoted to architecture and furniture by these designers, the Galerie Patrick Seguin also invites, every year during the FIAC, international contemporary art galleries to exhibit in its space.

Jean Prouvé’s enduring interest in methods of storage was expressed in individual pieces of furniture – shelving, display windows, sideboards and closets – and interior fittings for both private and public commissions. 1954 saw the creation of a hanging «cabinet/bookcase» which combined the principle of the standard cabinet with that of the bookshelves developed shortly before.

From 16 to 22 June, on the occasion of Design Miami/Basel 2014, Galerie Patrick Seguin is pleased to present the unprecedented F 8×8 BCC House designed in 1942 by Pierre Jeanneret and Jean Prouvé.

The F 8×8 BCC House is the result of the collaboration between Pierre Jeanneret and Jean Prouvé and it is a perfect example of the practical application of the “axial portal frame” constructional system that Prouvé designed and patented in 1938. Adapted to the shortage of metal during the war, the F 8×8 BCC House was made entirely of wood.

June 2014 – The Galerie Patrick Seguin, specializing in furniture and architecture of the 20th century, is pleased to announce a new publication: Le Corbusier – Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, India. This comprehensive work is dedicated to the massive Chandigarh project, of which the architecture and furniture are considered today as essential in the history of 20th century architecture and design. Illustrated with photographs dating from the time period to the present, this book documents both the architectural project and the importance of the production of furniture.