A pioneer of modernism in France, Charlotte Perriand was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design and architecture. In her long career, Perriand’s aesthetic grammar constantly evolved, moving from the tubular steel furniture of the Machine Age to a lyrical naturalism that is reflected in her enduring designs for chairs, sconces, daybeds and other works.
Perriand’s studies at the Ecole de L'Union Centrale de Arts Decoratifs left her enthralled by Charles-Édouard "Le Corbusier" Jeanneret and his vision of a new, rational architecture. In 1924, she joined his studio to design furniture along with Pierre Jeanneret, Corbu’s partner and cousin.
Together, they devised some of the finest examples of early modernist furniture, including two icons of the era: the B306 chaise — later renamed the LC4 — with its swooping frame and hide upholstery; and the chunky, steel-framed Grand Confort club chair. Both pieces were part of the LC line, which saw the trio of designers carrying out bold experiments with tubular chromed steel, just as architect and Bauhaus faculty member Marcel Breuer had executed with his cantilever Cesca chair around the same time. (Furniture created by Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret was originally produced by Austrian manufacturer Thonet but Italian firm Cassina acquired the production and sales rights to their works in 1964.)
Collaborative design produced another Perriand triumph: in the early 1950s, she and Jean Prouvé were engaged to produce desks, worktables and bookcases for the University of Paris. The bookcases — slim pine shelves with brightly painted aluminum dividers — are minimalist mid-century masterpieces.
By the end of that decade, Perriand’s aesthetic had changed completely from the earliest days of her career. She produced a series of furniture in ebonized wood: chairs with gentle S-curve legs, front and back; tables with elliptical tops. In the 1960s, Perriand pushed the boundaries of prefab to produce high-quality housing and furnishings at low cost for the French ski resort Les Arcs. She also adopted an almost rustic look at the time, designing simple chairs with dowel-cut frames and rush seats.
Everything in Perriand’s oeuvre is beautiful, whether it’s the centerpiece of a décor or an accent, and her work is in every great design collection, public and private.
The vintage Charlotte Perriand furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes stools, coffee tables, case pieces, lighting and more.
Nemo Lampe de Bureau Reading Floor Lamp E14 in White by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Starting from the necessity of illuminating the faces reflected in the mirror of a cabinet designed for the famous French glassworks Boussois, in 1965 Charlotte Perriand designed the...
Glass
Nemo Lampe de Bureau Reading Floor Lamp E14 in Blue Mare by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Starting from the necessity of illuminating the faces reflected in the mirror of a cabinet designed for the famous French glassworks Boussois, in 1965 Charlotte Perriand designed the...
Glass
Nemo Lampe de Bureau Reading Floor Lamp E14 in Yellow by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Starting from the necessity of illuminating the faces reflected in the mirror of a cabinet designed for the famous French glassworks Boussois, in 1965 Charlotte Perriand designed the...
Glass
Nemo Lampe de Bureau Applique Wall Lamp E14 in Red by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Starting from the necessity of illuminating the faces reflected in the mirror of a cabinet designed for the famous French glassworks Boussois, in 1965 Charlotte Perriand designed the...
Glass
Nemo Pivotante À Poser E26 Table Lamp in Carmine Red by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Innovative design for the 50s but still a contemporary table lamp. The lighting output is adjusted by the opening or closure of the volets. Its cylindrical body opens on two sides on...
Steel
Nemo Lampe de Bureau Reading Floor Lamp E14 in Green by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Starting from the necessity of illuminating the faces reflected in the mirror of a cabinet designed for the famous French glassworks Boussois, in 1965 Charlotte Perriand designed the...
Glass
1950 JJM Hoogervorst Floor Lamp for Anvia, Red Enamel, Articulating Shade
By J. J. M. Hoogervorst
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Floor lamp designed by J.J.M. Hoogervorst for Anvia Almelo during the 1950s represents Dutch postwar lighting innovation. The articulating shade allows directional adjustment while t...
Metal
Lumina Daphine Terra LED Floor Lamp in Matt Red by Tommaso Cimini
By Lumina, Tommaso Cimini
Located in Warsaw, PL
Lumina Daphine Terra LED table lamp in matt red by Tommaso Cimini Undisputed emblem of elegance and functionality, the Daphine represents the essence of Lumina. The idea behind the creation of the Daphine lamp is as simple as it is effective: a pivoting diffuser, an articulated arm in two segments and an electromechanical transformer on a cylindrical base between two metal caps. The Daphine first “saw the light” in a small workshop in Sedriano (Milan province) in 1975 thanks to the skilful hands of Tommaso Cimini, a mechanical engineering expert, and the machines he had retooled for the purpose. The Daphine springs from Tommaso Cimini’s design philosophy, “Lots of light, not much lamp”, which is still the essence of every product bearing the name of Lumina, the company he set up in 1980. 45 years on, the Daphine’s aesthetic and functionality are unchanged, which goes to show the validity of the original idea. Tried and tested throughout its long production history, this lamp lends itself to countless uses in public and private places, from reading desks in libraries to pianos, from jewellery display...
Metal
Davide Moretto “Cappuccetto Rosso” Floor Lamp in Cast Iron with Red Shade, Italy
By Davide Moretto
Located in Vicenza, IT
A unique sculptural floor lamp by Italian artist Davide Moretto, crafted from a reclaimed 1950s industrial stand and transformed into a refined, contemporary lighting piece. “Cappuc...
Steel
Red Lampe Gras N° 411 Floor Lamp by Bernard-Albin Gras
By Bernard-albin Gras
Located in Geneve, CH
Red lampe Gras N° 411 floor lamp by Bernard-Albin Gras Dimensions: D 72 x W 32 x H 211 cm Materials: Steel Also Available: Different colors and other shade available. All our l...
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Topo' Articulating Floor Lamp for Stilnovo in Red
By Stilnovo, Joe Colombo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Joe Colombo 'Topo' Articulating Floor Lamp for Stilnovo in Red. Founded in 1946 in Milan, Stilnovo was one of the most innovative lighting companies in Italy during the Midcentury e...
Steel
Vittoriano Viganò 'VV Cinquanta' Floor Lamp in Red for Astep
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti, Vittoriano Vigano
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vittoriano Viganò 'VV Cinquanta' floor lamp in red for Astep. Viganò was the art director of Arteluce, the company founded by his creative partner Gino ...
Brass, Aluminum
