ANDRE MONPOIX, 151 CHAIRS, MEUBLES TV ED., 1954

André Monpoix (1925-1976)

Pair of 151 chairs, Meubles TV edition, France, 1954

Black lacquered metal, Isogaine, additional cushion Tonus red fabric by Maison Kvadrat

Height 68 x Width 61 x Depth 70 cm

Literature:

Décor d’aujourd’hui, n°86, 1954

Maison française, n°82, nov. 1954

Commercial catalog Meubles TV, circa 1955

Biography:

The grandson of a cabinetmaker and the son of shopkeepers based in Paris, André Monpoix showed a precocious aptitude for drawing. He entered the École des Arts Décoratif, where he was taught by René Gabriel - with whom he did an internship - Maxime Old and Jacques Dumond, who promoted contemporary furniture. Graduating in 1949 - the same year as André Simard, Pierre Guariche and Alain Richard - he joined Dumond's agency for four years, where he cut his teeth and really learned the trade.

In 1953, he opened his design office on rue Tournon in Paris's 6th arrondissement, above the boutique workshop of his wife, fabric designer Geneviève Dupeux. As early as 1951, he exhibited at the Salon des arts ménagers, where he presented series furniture in natural wood. His regular participation in the SAM's foyer d'aujourd'hui and the Salon des artistes décorateurs, enabled him to promote his concept of modern furniture with sober, rigorous lines. At the 1954 SAM, he presented a metal-framed heating unit stretched with white isogaine plastic wires, which was also exhibited at the 1st - and only - Triennale d'art Français Contemporain in 1956. Manufactured by Meubles TV, this publishing house founded by Robert Vecchione would publish most of André Monpoix's creations, as well as those of his friend Alain Richard, until 1968. For the Brussels World Fair in 1958, he designed the children's bedroom in the low-rent apartment entrusted to the architect André Hermant. His career took off when he was awarded the Prix René Gabriel four years later. In 1963, he joined forces with Pierre Paulin and Jeanne Couturier to design and produce the first Biennale de la lumière at the Salon des artistes décorateurs. André Monpoix developed a clientele of private individuals for whom he designed interiors and participated in certain projects, such as in 1967, when he co-signed with Alain Richard a red ABS telephone booth on a metal base for Grenoble's Maison de la Culture.

He also collaborated with the publisher Negroni, designing a collection of furniture in Oregon pine. In collaboration with Joseph-André Motte and Pierre Paulin, he is responsible for the new layout of the rooms at the Louvre Museum. Under the guidance of Mobilier National administrator Jean Coural and Michel Laclotte, then director of the Paintings department, the trio took charge of the entire museography, including interior architecture, color and lighting choices, display cases and work selection. For four years, they worked on the layout of the Grande Galerie, the Salon Carrée and the Pavillon de Flore.

In 1971, he designed the new buildings for the Ministry of Social Affairs in Paris, and teamed up with Pierre Paulin to fit out the Queen of England's carriage during her visit to Paris in 1972. His untimely death at the age of 51 put an end to the promising career of one of the most creative designers of an entire generation. His work is associated with rigorous design and an innate sense of proportion.