PIERRE PAULIN, F300 armchairs, Artifort ed., 1964

PIERRE PAULIN (1927-2009)

Pair of F300 armchairs
Artifort edition, Netherlands, model created in 1964
Restored white gelcoat fiberglass structure, choice of foam and fabric
H. 90 (seat 38) x L. 73 x D. 52 cm
4 available

Literature:
C. Geel, Pierre Paulin. Créateur, Archibooks, Paris, 2008
C. Pitiot, Paulin, Cat. Expos, CNAM, Paris, 2016

References:

Collection Musée d’art moderne, Centre Pompidou, don Mme Maia Paulin, n°inv. AM 2015-1-32
Collection Musée d’art moderne Saint-Étienne
Exposition Paulin, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 11 mai-22 août 2016

Biography:

Pierre Paulin (French, 1927–2009) trained as a sculptor but injured his right arm, forcing him to turn to design and study at the École Camondo in Paris. He is perhaps best known for his innovative designs for the Dutch company Artifort in the 1960s: the famous Mushroom Chair (1959), the Ribbon Chair (1966), and the Tongue Chair (1968), which used foam and metal frames with stretchable materials and clean lines that cradled the body. Paulin was also highly influential and involved in French design throughout the 1970s. Clearly influenced by his training as a sculptor and his German roots, as well as by the work of early modernists, Paulin was even more marked by the work of George Nelson and Charles Eames and by the importance of the social component of modern design.

Most notably, Paulin was invited by the Mobilier National in 1970 to decorate the private apartments of President George Pompidou in the Palais de l'Élysée, and to furnish the office of President Francois Mitterand in 1983. He also redesigned the interiors of numerous private and public spaces including the Denon Wing of the Louvre Museum, the hall of Tapestries in Paris City Hall, the Economic and Social Council assembly room, and the Green Room of the state radio's Broadcasting House ("Maison de la Radio").

What makes Paulin’s designs so distinctive is their striking sculptural shape, which earned Paulin many prizes worldwide. Paulin’s designs are timeless and progressive and in November 2009 he was posthumously awarded the distinction of “Royal Designer for Industry” (RDI) by President Nicolas Sarkozy. In 2016, a retrospective of his work was on view at Centre Pompidou, Paris.