Home Stories

v Jean Prouvé, who regarded himself as an engineer throughout his lifetime, was both the designer and manufacturer of his This season we invite you product ideas. His unique oeuvre, ranging from a letter opener to door and window fittings, from lighting and furniture to prefabricated houses and modular building systems, encom- passes almost anything that is suited to industrial production to explore the world of Jean and construction. Prouvé, one of the twentieth century’s great constructeurs*. Follow us into the archives and discover the stories behind his masterpieces. A selection of contempo rary pieces offers added inspiration, and you can find a wide choice of gifts in the Accessories Collection.

Visiting a fl ea market in the 1980s, Based on extensive analysis of the historical models was excited to fi nd an Antony chair by the French in the collection of the , our architect and designer Jean Prouvé (1901-1984). The contemporary re-editions are developed with respect vintage object became the founding piece of what is for Prouvé’s original vision, down to the smallest now the most complete archive of Prouvé furniture of details. in the world, housed at the Vitra Design Museum in ‘Vitra’s range of lighting and furniture by Jean , Germany. Prouvé is developed in close cooperation with the The genius of Jean Prouvé’s designs lies in their family. This partnership fi lls us with deep satisfaction.’ focus on function and their bold, stripped-back — Catherine Prouvé, daughter of Jean Prouvé execution. At Vitra we regard Prouvé as one of the greatest ‘constructeurs’ of the twentieth century. * French term for a person who constructs and /or builds.

1 3 1

2

( 1 ) EM Table 900 × 2000 mm · 70 solid natural oak, oiled · Jean Prouvé, 1950 ( 2 ) Standard · 75 solid American walnut, oiled, 40 chocolate powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1934/1950 ( 3 ) Lampe de Bureau · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1930 Original drawing of the Lampe de Bureau from the Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nancy, France

Bent steel diffuses light to bathe the desktop in 1 a pleasant glow.

Prouvé’s Lampe de Bureau is a small table lamp ori gin- This re-edition of the Lampe de Bureau features a ally conceived for the student accommodation at the powder-coated fi nish in a selection of three colours Cité Universitaire in Nancy. Constructed from bent based on the designer’s original plans. sheet steel, with a shade that diff uses light to pleasantly illuminate the desk surface, the lamp is an ingenious fusion of elegance and functionality.

4 ( 1 ) Lampe de Bureau · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1930 4

1

3

2 ( 1 ) Guéridon · 70 solid natural oak, oiled · Jean Prouvé, 1949 ( 2 ) Standard SP · 88 ecru powder-coated (textured), 69 marron · Jean Prouvé, 1934/1950 ( 3 ) Standard SP · 91 mint powder-coated (textured) · 87 teak brown · Jean Prouvé, 1934/1950 ( 4 ) Lampe de Bureau · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1930 Jean Prouvé Standard chair. A vintage object from Deceptively simple in appear- the Prouvé collection at the Vitra Design Museum. ance, Prouvé’s Standard chair was the outcome of years of experi mentation and effort.

Original drawing of the Guéridon table and Standard chair from the Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nancy, France

In 1934 Jean Prouvé introduced the fi rst model of but Prouvé also created variations made entirely from his Standard chair, which he named Chair No. 4 in metal or wood. Further models came with cushions in reference to the three prototypes that preceded it. various materials, or demountable components that Prouvé continued to refi ne and perfect the design over allowed for easy transport. the next several years. Most models of the Standard chair combined a metal frame and legs with a wooden seat and backrest,

9 7

3

6

2

5

1

4 ( 1 ) Grand Sofà 3½-Seater open right with Chaise Longue left, cushions tufted · Corsaro, 06 sand melange · Antonio Citterio, 2017 ( 2 ) Grand Sofà Bench · Corsaro, 06 sand melange · Antonio Citterio, 2017 ( 3 ) Sofa Tray · Antonio Citterio, 2017 ( 4 ) Cité · Mello, 05 papyrus · Jean Prouvé, 1930 ( 5 ) Tabouret Solvay · 70 solid natural oak, oiled · Jean Prouvé, 1941 ( 6 ) Plate Table 410 × 410 mm · Marble · Jasper Morrison, 2004 ( 7 ) Potence · 12 deep black powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1950 Based on Prouvé’s original designs, Petite Potence is the perfect light for the compact interior. 1

Original drawing of the Potence lamp from the Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nancy, France

Launched in 1940, the Potence wall lamp is an ac- Vitra has fi nally developed the more compact lamp knowledged masterpiece of functionalist design. for series production. Bold yet graceful, it consists of a simple light bulb The neat dimensions of Petite Potence make it ideal attached to a long, swivelling steel arm held by a steel for smaller interiors. Like its larger counterpart, wire. it comes with a powder-coated fi nish available in The Vitra Design Museum has several examples various colours, all based on original plans, a cable of the Potence lamp in its collection. After careful sheathed in a high-quality textile casing, and a dim- analysis of a smaller version, known as Petite Potence, mable LED bulb.

12 ( 1 ) Petite Potence · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1947 3

4

1

2

( 1 ) Grand Repos & Ottoman · Cosy 2 cross stitch, 01 pebble grey · Antonio Citterio, 2011 ( 2 ) Cork Family · Jasper Morrison, 2004 ( 3 ) Petite Potence · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1947 ( 4 ) Wall Clocks - Popsicle Clock · , 1957 Grand Relax. The new lounge chair by Antonio Citterio.

2 4

3

1

( 1 ) Grand Relax & Ottoman · Leather Premium, 97 cognac · Antonio Citterio, 2019 ( 2 ) Suita Daybed · Dumet, 03 beige/grey · Antonio Citterio, 2010 ( 3 ) Plate Table 410 × 410 mm · Marble · Jasper Morrison, 2004 ( 4 ) Eames House Bird · walnut Organic Chair. A compact reading chair in a limited edition.

3

Scene at the MoMA exhibition ‘Organic Design in Home Furnishings’, 1941

The Organic Chair: an icon 2 of modern American design.

1

This compact and comfortable reading chair was de- backrest (Organic Chair); a high-backed model (Organic signed by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames for a design Highback), and one designed for dining tables or competition at MoMA in 1940. Its graceful curves meeting rooms (Organic Conference). This winter it became the starting point for several of Charles and is available as a limited edition in Sheepskin. Ray Eames' furniture designs over the ensuing years. Vitra currently produces the Organic Chair in three diff erent versions: a reading chair with a medium-high

( 1 ) Organic Chair · Sheepskin , 01 moonlight · Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen, 1940 ( 2 ) Cork Family · Jasper Morrison, 2004 ( 3 ) Lampe de Bureau · 06 Japanese red powder-coated (smooth) · Jean Prouvé, 1930 19 Accessories Collection.

1

2 3

5

7 6 8 9

4

13

10 12

11

14

16 ( 1 ) Eames House Bird · walnut ( 2 ) Silhouette Bull · , 1965 ( 3 ) Wall Clocks - Sunburst Clock · George Nelson, 1948-1960 17 15 ( 4 ) Resting Bird · Front, 2018 ( 5 ) Wooden Dolls Mother Fish & Child · Alexander Girard, 1952 ( 6 ) Desk Clocks - Night Clock · George Nelson, 1947/1953 ( 7 ) Desk Clocks - Chronopak · George Nelson, 1947/1953 ( 8 ) Desk Clock - Cone Base Clock · George Nelson, 1947/1953 ( 9 ) Desk Clocks - Cone Clock · George Nelson, 1947/1953 ( 10 ) Lampe de Bureau · Jean Prouvé, 1930 ( 11 ) Wooden Doll No. 7 · Alexander Girard, 1952 ( 12 ) Wooden Doll No. 1 · Alexander Girard, 1952 ( 13 ) Wooden Doll No. 4 · Alexander Girard, 1952 ( 14 ) Nuage (céramique) · Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, 2018 ( 15 ) Resting Cat · Front, 2018 ( 16 ) Herringbone Pillows · Raw-Edges, 2019 ( 17 ) Cork Family · Jasper Morrison, 2004 These offers are valid through participating dealers only. They can be found at www.vitra.com/find-vitra Vitra Inc., 11 Park Place, 3rd Fl., New York, NY 10007 001 212 463 5700, [email protected] www.vitra.com

Design, Art Direction: Studio AKFB, Set Design: Sebastian Soukup

Picture credits of historical images: Inside cover , mnam-cci, bibliothèque Kandinsky, fonds cardot-joly, p. 4, 9, 12 Archives départementales de Meurthe-et Moselle, p. 19 (©) MoMa ; Sculpture on cover and p. 10 Thomas Lerooy p. 10 Carpet Amini

Vitra International AG strives to respect the rights of third parties. If we have inadvertently used material without acknowledgement, we will correct the omission immediately upon notification. No part of this brochure may be reproduced without prior written permission from Vitra. Prices valid through 31 December 2019; prices subject to change without notice.

US / EN 2019, art. no. 09187002