Jean Pierre Vitrac for Manade

JEAN PIERRE VITRAC (France, 1944) for Manade
Swivel coat rack, 1982.
Lacquered steel and plastic.
Signed.
Measurements: 190 x 47.5 x 39 cm.
A freestanding coat rack designed by Jean-Pierre Vitrac for the French firm Manade in 1982. The piece is characterized by a structure of vertical lines and a modular configuration that combines lacquered steel with the expressiveness of the plastic elements. Its design reflects a functional approach to accent furniture, in which versatility of use is integrated into an industrial-inspired aesthetic. The structure consists of lacquered steel uprights that support two sets of adjustable plastic hooks, arranged at different heights to facilitate the hanging of clothing and accessories. The ability to rotate the elements allows their arrangement to be adapted to the user’s needs, transforming an everyday object into an ingenious exercise in functional design. Conceived in France in the early 1980s, the coat rack reflects the era’s interest in transformable objects and home organization systems that combined industrial materials with practical solutions.
Jean-Pierre Vitrac is a French industrial designer whose career has focused primarily on product design, lighting, and functional objects. His education includes studies at the École des Arts Appliqués, supplemented by a self-taught approach to industrial design. His work is represented in internationally renowned museum collections, including those of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, which hold examples of his “Flower” lamp.