Mid-century furniture by Jean Prouve (France)

Jean Prouvé (1901-1984) was born in Nancy, France, into a family of artists and designers. His father, Victor Prouvé, was a prominent Art Nouveau ceramist. Jean was apprenticed to a blacksmith at the age of 14, and then studied engineering at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Industriels de Nancy.

In 1923, Prouvé opened his own workshop in Nancy, where he began to produce wrought-iron furniture and other objects. He earned a reputation for his innovative designs and his use of new materials and techniques. In the early 1930s, he began to experiment with sheet metal, and he developed a number of new folding and bending techniques that allowed him to create strong and lightweight furniture.

In 1934, Prouvé introduced his Standard chair, a simple and affordable chair made from bent sheet metal and plywood. The Standard chair quickly became a popular choice for schools, hospitals, and other more... public spaces.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Prouvé also designed and built a number of prefabricated houses and other structures. He was a pioneer in the use of prefabricated construction, and he believed that it could be used to create high-quality, affordable housing for everyone.

After World War II, Prouvé continued to design furniture and architecture. He also became a vocal advocate for social and environmental justice. He taught at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from 1958 to 1971, and he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1972.

Prouvé passed away in 1984. His work is characterized by its simplicity, functionality, and elegance. He was a master of using industrial materials and manufacturing techniques to create beautiful and durable objects. less...