Arp, Bookcase in oak and metal, 1960s

Arp, attributed to.
Minvielle, signed. 

Modular bookcase in blond oak. Four modules. Colored windows. Base in black metal. 

Work realized in the 1960s. 

Dimensions : H 166 x W 285 x  D 46 cm

Reference : LS46551501

ARP (Atelier de Recheche Plastique) is an association of three designers: Pierre Guariche (1926-1955), Joseph-André Motte (1925-2013) and Michel Mortier (1925-2015). Their adventure began in 1954 and ended in 1957. During these years, they worked in collaboration with various publishers, including Steiner,among which Steiner and Minvielle.

LES HUCHERS-MINVIELLE : Charles Minvielle steered the family business towards modernity by appealing in the early 1950s to members of the ARP. In 1956, the ARP designed a system of furniture by elements which will make its reputation. With a mounting system allowing the composition to be enlarged as needed, these elements offer an infinite number of solutions. At the same time, Charles Minvielle innovates by setting up his own distribution network. With this in mind, he founded Les Huchers, which merged in 1961 with Les Elements Minvielle to become Les Huchers-Minvielle. The stores are located throughout France. Eager to diversify, the company is developing an office sector and calls on Pierre Guariche, Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq. In 1970, Charles Minvielle sold his business.

Pierre Guariche (1926-1995) was a French designer who made his studies in French Ecole Nationale supérieure des Arts decoratifs(* French National Superiori School of Decorative Arts) where he was graduated in 1949. He made an internship with the famous designer Marcel Gascoin and began his career in 1950 by creating his Rotaflex lamp. He edited his own models that he exhibited in differents Salons (Salon des Arts Ménagers, Salon des Artistes Décorateurs) and then was noticed by editors such as the Galerie MAI, Pierre Disderot or Steiner that edited his furniture.

Then, he associated with two other decorators, Michel Mortier and Joseph-André Motte,and founded with them the Atelier de Recherche Plastique “A.R.P.” (Plastic Research Workshop) in 1954 to create furniture series for the editor Charles Minvielle. They wanted to create practical furniture finding their place in small spaces. The A.R.P. ended in 1957 and Guariche took the direction of the furniture department of the Belgian society Meurop and explored interior architecture. He realized some development projects : the General Council and the Prefecture of Essonne, the winter station La Plagne, the Firminy hospital, the High Court of Créteil, etc. He received the René Gabriel Prize in 1965, rewarding a creator of qualitative and economical serial modern furniture. During his career, Guariche was essentially interested in series furniture, practical, simple, well proportionate, playing with different materials such as wood, metal or molded plastic. His creations are actually reedited by Maison du Monde ans Sammode since 2018.

Source : https://madparis.fr/editeurs-diffuseurs-et-createurs