Pierre Chapo. Series of 6 model S34 chairs. 1960s.

Pierre Chapo (1927-1987) is a French furniture designer, who fell in love with wood after meeting a naval carpenter, who enrolled at the Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1947. He interspersed his studies with numerous trips to the Scandinavian countries, the United States and Central America. On his return to France, he founded his practice and continued his woodworking with different species: oak, ash and elm. In 1957, he opened his gallery in Paris and exhibited his creations as well as those of other designers such as Serge Mouille, Isamu Noguchi and Charlotte Perriand. He will then receive his first orders such as the “Godot” bed ordered by Samuel Beckett. In 1960, he received the gold medal at the Arts and Crafts Techniques exhibition, organized by the city of Paris. He developed his furniture manufacturing workshop in Clamart and participated in several development projects. In 1967, he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and won the bronze medal. It also subcontracts with three workshops in the Vosges, including Seltz cabinetmakers. Towards the end of his life, he gave a series of conferences around wood, cabinetmaking, tradition and creation. His work will revolve, throughout his career, around creations in solid wood, combining contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship, to offer us refined and organic creations. Source: Hugues Magen (dir.), Pierre Chapo, a modern artist, New York, Magen H Gallery, 2017