Charlotte Perriand

CHARLOTTE PERRIAND (France, 1903 - 1999).
Pair of Dordogne style chairs, ca. 1960s.
Wood and straw.
Measurements: 76 x 47 x 43 cm. ; 45 cm. (seat height)

Charlotte Perriand was a key figure of modernism, collaborator of Le Corbusier and Jeanneret. The Dordogne model responds to a period in which the designer began to take an interest in natural materials such as wood, cane and bulrush under the influence of Japanese culture. This alliance between modern language and Japanese philosophy gave rise to unique pieces such as the Dordogne chair. The Dordogne chairs, which embody a natural and avant-garde approach at the same time, have a light wood frame, formed by sturdy straight legs joined by thin horizontal slats. The seats and backs are made of woven straw. These chairs are called "Dordogne", in reference to the river located in the French region of Corrèze.

Charlotte Perriand worked in Le Corbusier's studio as head of furniture and interiors. She was a French artist, architect and designer of great international prestige, promoter of modern interior architecture. Inspired by Japanese minimalism, she developed the concept of storage furniture and, together with Jean Prouvé, practiced the democratization of interior design with key pieces of the twentieth century. She became known at the age of 24 with her "Bar sous le Toit" in chromed steel and anodized aluminum, which was presented at the 1927 Salon d'Automne. Shortly thereafter he began his more than ten-year career alongside Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier. In 1927 he established his first studio of his own. He developed the concept of domestic storage and multifunctional furniture, equipping interiors for an emerging way of life and standardizing decoration, thus avoiding any extravagance. He collaborated with Le Corbusier on numerous architectural projects, designing the fittings for different dwellings such as the villas La Roche-Jeanneret, Church en Ville-d'Avray, Stein-de Monzie and the Villa Savoye, as well as the interiors of the Swiss Pavilion in the Cité Universitaire and the Cité Refuge de l'Armée du Salut, both in Paris. He also worked with him on the definition of the cellule minimum (1929). His relationship with Le Corbusier resumed after the war, developing the first prototype of the integrated kitchen for the Unité d'Habitation de Marseille. He also collaborated with Fernand Léger. His career spanned places as diverse as Brazil, Congo, England, France, Japan, French New Guinea, Switzerland, and Vietnam. The Design Museum in London dedicated an exhibition to the designer in which her career path was shown.