Office Chair, ca. 1959- 60, teak and recovered in leather

Recently we had the chance to learn about Patrick Seguin’s passion for Pierre Jeannerat, Jean Prouvé and Jean Royere at his Paris Gallery. This week we would like share the work of Pierre Jeanneret – specifically his chair designs for the Chandigarh India project in the 1950s.

 Shortly after India gained independence in the lat 1940s, the Prime Minister Nehru of Chandigarh hired Pierre Jeanneret and his cousin Le Corbusier to build the capital city, which would become the administrative capital of the province Punjab.

The Galerie documents that, “The sole instruction given by Nehru was to be « expressive, experimental and to not let themselves be hindered by tradition ». Chandigarh originated in a unique urbanistic global approach, and would be, as Nehru wished, a symbol of modernity.”

Office chair, circa 1959-60 recovered in black hide

While the two men started the project together in the early 1950s, Le Corbusier soon left to take on other projects while Jeanneret stayed for 15 years to complete the project as chief architect and urban designer.  He simultaneously created a furniture style used in the Senate and office buildings that is evidenced in the chairs in this post.

The design feels very relevant in today’s interiors. They have strong clean and efficient form that is influenced by and simultaneously breaks away from history. The use of teak, a local Indian wood acknowledged the environment for which the designs were conceived. These chairs symbolized modernity and forward thinking. They are powerful, elegant and understated.

Office chair, circa 1955-56, re-caned

The gallery has documented Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier’s work on the Chandigarh project in this publication.

Judges Chairs,  circa 1955

Advocate chair, circa 1955-56

The upholstery can be customized. All of the chairs are authenticated and in their structures are all original.

Photo courtesy of Galerie Patrick Seguin