Molded plywood seat with bent and painted tubular and flat steel frame

Antony chair, 1950-1954

Not on Viewexpand_more

Jean Prouvé, one of the most important French designers of the twentieth century, believed that design was a moral issue. He specialized in creating furniture for public spaces, such as government buildings, schools, and hospitals, where it could be used and enjoyed by many people, rather than just wealthy private clients. As a result, he began manufacturing on a large scale as early as the 1930s, pushing the limits of contemporary technology. His designs are elegant yet practical, revealing his love for construction and engineering. Prouvé's design philosophy was "Never design anything that cannot be made". This chair, which combines molded plywood with industrial steel struts, comes from the Cité Universitaire in Antony, near Paris, for which Prouvé designed the student dormitories and the cafeteria. Prouvé gave up furniture design in 1953 but continued to work as an architect and teacher.

Details
Title
Antony chair
Artist Life
1901-1984
Role
Designer
Accession Number
98.276.292
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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Molded plywood seat with bent and painted tubular and flat steel frame