Pierre Chapo Set of Four Elm and Leather S 24 Dining Chairs, France, 1960s

Original "B17" bookshelf by Pierre Chapo, circa 1967, in French elmwood. One of the most iconic piece of Pierre Chapo (1927-1986). In 1967, Pierre Chapo presented new creations at the Salon des Arts Ménagers, exhibiting the B17 bookshelf for the first time. This bookcase is fixed to the wall freeing up a lot of living space. The bookshelf, whose presence surprises by its discretion and elegance, by the harmony of the lines between the uprights and the shelves (in 50 mm sections) is accentuated by the originality of the support system. Supports, as their name implies, normally prop up the shelves of a piece of furniture or else the jutting parts of buildings. Pierre Chapo decided not to take this universal law into account and modeled a support that fits into the upright, which means the shelf can be solidly fixed under its support. In a balance between gravity and the forces at play, the more weight goes on the shelf, the better its components slot into the upright. The wall unit is in the French Campagne style...

Mobichalet, founded by the teacher turned cabinetmaker Joseph Deffense in Beauraing, Belgium, in 1950, had been active a decade, aiming at furnishing second homes with rustic furnitu...

Dining room chair “S34” has the playful and majestic characteristics typical of Pierre Chapo's emblematic creations. Asymmetrical, yet perfectly balanced, this model belongs with the designer’s famous “Sfax” table. This model is one of those designs where the aesthetic is elevated, and the individual features enhanced when the same models are put together. Said aesthetic is based on the cross-legged base that corresponds to the design of the backrest, which is slightly offset from the middle. Made from Chapo's favourite wood, elm, these chairs have a rustic style with architectural precision. This comes as no surprise, as Pierre Chapo trained as an architect in Paris and this knowledge becomes evident in his elaborate structural solutions. The slightly more rounded edges show that these chairs are an older, authentic version of the “S34” model. The cross-legged bases match the backs that are slightly placed out of the middle, enhancing the masterful asymmetry that not only distinguishes the design, but also adds a sense of playfulness. The overall look is very sleek, and combined with details like the visible joinery and the solid wooden structure, this set is perfectly imperfect, which is a conscious, Chapo-esque ideal. Chapo's work originated by means of special commissions that would later be adapted to universal needs. Chapo was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and the Bauhaus. The three principles that motivated Pierre Chapo were material, form, and function. Despite his love for the imperfect, he measured his furniture by means of the golden ratio and used elm wood as his preferred material. These “S34” chairs...

Set of 14 Pierre Chapo S11 dining chairs in original condition, France, 1960s. Elm and leather. More photos on request. Fast shipping worldwide.