Pierre Chapo, who was born in Paris, France, in July 1927, was initially interested in becoming a professional painter. However, after a chance meeting with a shipbuilder who introduced him to wood and woodworking, Chapo changed his focus and decided to study architectural studies at the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
After graduating, Chapo and his wife, the sculptor and painter Nicole Lormier, started traveling extensively through Scandinavia and Central America. Among the many places the couple visited was Taliesin West, the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright — a visit that had a lasting influence on Chapo’s future work and designs.
Find a collection of vintage Pierre Chapo coffee tables, stools and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by H. Gallery)
Rainer Daumiller Pine Dining Chairs, set of 6, 1970s
By Rainer Daumiller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six dining chairs by Rainer Daumiller, produced in the 1970s and crafted in solid pine. The design features a matte finish, thick rounded supports, softly curved backrests, an...
Pine
Italian Modernist Dining Chairs, Set of Six, Walnut Wood, 1970s Design
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of six Italian dining chairs from the 1970's feature a warm walnut-toned wood with a rich, medium-brown finish. The design is distinctly modernist with clean, architectural ...
Wood
Giovanni Michelucci "Torbecchia" Series Dining Chairs by Poltronova, Set of 6
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six dining chairs, designed by Giovanni Michelucci from the Torbecchia series and produced by Poltronova in the 1960s. The design uses a simple wooden structure, reflecting hi...
Rush, Wood
Mid-20TH Century Pinewood and Rush Chairs, France 1950s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
These chairs are made of a sturdy pine wood frame and have a traditional rush seating. The style is at once rustic/primitive and sophisticated as well.
Rush, Pine
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Chairs, 1960's, a pair
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Vico Magistretti “Carimate” chairs, designed in 1959 for the Carimate Golf Club north of Milan. Striking yet comfortable, the Carima...
Linen, Wood
Pierre Chapo T21B 'Sfax' Dining Table, Elm, Brutalist, 1970s France
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The T21B "Sfax" dining table is a masterclass in French modernism, showcasing Pierre Chapo’s signature ability to blend architectural rigor with the organic warmth of solid elm. The ...
Elm
S34 Dining Chairs by Pierre Chapo, Elm Wood, Mid-Century, 1960
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Chapo S34 dining chairs, a masterpiece from 1970s France. These chairs embody the unique aesthetic typical of Pierre Chapo's iconic designs. ...
Wood, Elm
Set of 8 Pierre Chapo S28 Mid-Century French Elm Dining Chairs
Located in London, GB
A set of eight elm dining chairs by Pierre Chapo. France, c1974. S28 model. Increasingly scarce as Chapo's stature in the design world continues to rise. Good condition. One chai...
Elm
Pierre Chapo “S28” Dining Chairs for Atelier Pierre Chapo, 1972, Set of 6
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Pierre Chapo “S28” dining chairs for Atelier Pierre Chapo, elm, France, 1972, set of six. The "S28" dining chairs, designed by Pierre Chapo in 1972, represent a clear transition fro...
Elm
Pierre Chaposet of 8 S45 solid elm Chairs 1970
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Grenoble, FR
Series of elm chairs by Pierre Chapo model S45 called "Chlacc". After being inspired by designers like Perriand, Pierre Chapo developed traditional and contemporary wood techniques as with this very sophisticated model which gives the chair the appearance of a cathedral frame...
Elm
Pierre Chapo “S28” Dining Chairs for Atelier Pierre Chapo, 1972, Set of 4
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Pierre Chapo “S28” dining chairs for Atelier Pierre Chapo, elm, France, 1972, set of four. The "S28" dining chairs, designed by Pierre Chapo in 1972, represent a clear transition fr...
Elm
Pierre Chapo Set of Six "S34" Elm Wood Chairs, France, 1960s
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Utrecht, NL
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...
Wood
