The present two-sided wardrobe designed by Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand stands as a testament to their pioneering collaborations and their visionary contributions to public living. Conceived around 1954 for the cafeteria of the Cité Universitaire d’Antony as a storage unit and room-divider for the large communal space, this wardrobe embodies both designer’s shared commitment to creating accessible, durable furniture that bridges art and industry, while integrating creativity with social consciousness.
Cafeteria of the Cité Universitaire d’Antony. Artwork: © 2024 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris In this model, Prouvé’s engineering prowess and precision in metalwork merge seamlessly with Perriand’s humanistic touch and appreciation for organic materials. The coat rack features a sleek black steel body framed in warm ash planks on top and bottom, highlighting the harmonious blend of materials. The red hardboard with a perforated grid gives the wardrobe a sense of lightness and transparency. The site specificity of the model is evident from the double-sided design which allowed the wardrobe to sit in the middle of the cafeteria, dividing the large space, muting noise, and cloistering the dining area.
Provenance
Cité Universitaire d'Antony, France
Galerie Jousse Seguin, Paris
Daniel Lebard, Brussels, acquired from the above
Christie's, Paris, "Collection Daniel Lebard, sous le prisme de la modernité," November 2-3, 2021, lot 241
Acquired from the above by the present ownerLiterature
Galeries Jousse Seguin and Galerie Enrico Navarra, Jean Prouvé, Paris, 1998, p. 150
Jacques Barsac, Charlotte Perriand: Complete Works, Volume 2, 1940-1955, Zurich, 2015, pp. 428-29, 431
Property of a Private American Collector
111
Two-sided wardrobe, designed for Cité Universitaire d'Antony, France
circa 1954
Laminate-covered hardboard, painted steel, ash-veneered wood, aluminum.
74 1/2 x 70 1/2 x 13 3/4 in. (189.2 x 179.1 x 34.9 cm)
Produced by Les Ateliers Jean Prouvé, France.
Estimate
$25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $38,100
Benjamin Green
Associate Specialist, Head of Sale, New York
bgreen@phillips.com
+1 212 940 1267
Design
New York Auction 11 December 2024
126
This lot is no longer available.
203
This lot is no longer available.
