Guariche

A visionary designer, he brought a functionalist dimension to furniture without ever forgetting the aesthetic approach. He was keen to meet the needs of his time, using mass production processes. His creations have become legendary pieces, such as the Tonneau chair (1953 and 1954), the Tulipe chair (1956) and the Président desk (1961). Pierre Guariche was born in 1926. He studied at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, graduating in 1949. He then worked in Marcel Gascoin's studio, presenting his first designs at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and the Salon des Arts Ménagers. In 1953, he designed the legendary "Tonneau" chair for Steiner, first in plastic (1953) then in folded plywood (1954). With Joseph-André Motte and Michel Mortier, he founded the Atelier de Recherche Plastique in 1954. In 1957, he was appointed Artistic Director of the Meurop furniture manufacturing company. He subsequently shared his knowledge with students at the Ecole Supérieure d'Architecture de Tournai and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris.Read More