Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret - Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches Hong Kong Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Phillips, London, 'Design', 28 April 2016, lot 105
    Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

  • Literature

    Jacques Barsac, Charlotte Perriand, Complete Works Volume 2: 1940-1955, Paris, 2015, pp. 166, 174, 366

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present bookshelf was designed by two of the most influential designers of the 20th century. It is primarily made from oak and oak-veneered wood, a durable material which gives the piece a sense of warmth, elegance, and timeless appeal. The glass doors of the cabinets in the middle section provide a notable contrast to the wooden frame, giving an element of transparency and lightness to the piece. This is further displayed through its construction on three levels, resulting in a beautiful combination of positive and negative space.

    Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret were two of the most important figures in the mid-century modern movement. Perriand was a French architect and designer, and one of the few women to be accepted into the male-dominated world of design during that time. She worked closely with Le Corbusier and was a pioneer in the use of new materials such as steel and aluminium in furniture design as well as a proponent of a pared-down aesthetic she discovered during her travels to Japan. Her trip there in the early 1940s was an eye-opening journey in developing a powerfully simple design language which she imbued in her creations of the following years. Similarly favouring minimalist projects and constructions, Jeanneret was a Swiss architect, painter and designer who worked alongside his cousin Le Corbusier.

    In the design of this bookshelf with cabinets, we can see a true representation of the designers’ shared philosophy of simplicity and practicality. It is a simple yet well-thought-out design, created with the user in mind and providing ample storage space while making a statement within an interior. Together, Perriand and Jeanneret brought a new, modern aesthetic to the furniture design of their time, emphasizing the beauty of functionality and clean lines.

312

Bookshelf with cabinets, model no. 14, from 'L’Équipement de la Maison' series

oak, oak-veneered wood, glass
170 x 124 x 38 cm. (66 7/8 x 48 7/8 x 14 7/8 in.)
Circa 1944. Manufactured by L’Équipement de la Maison, Grenoble and Bureau de Coordination du Batiment, Paris, France.

Estimate
HK$150,000 - 200,000 
€17,700-23,600
$19,200-25,600

Sold for HK$304,800

Contact Specialist

Anastasia Salnikoff
Head of Mid-Season Sales
+852 2318 2014
anastasiasalnikoff@phillips.com
 

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches

Hong Kong Auction 25 May 2023