Pierre Jeanneret, Capitol Complex Armchair for Cassina

PIERRE JEANNERET (Genoa, 1896–1967) for Cassina.
Capitol Complex Armchair. Designed in 1951-1956.
Oak frame, cushions upholstered in Racing green leather. Label from Cassina.
The chair is a showroom model; it has never been used.
Produced by Cassina.
Measurements: 69 x 69 x 74 cm. 37 cm. (seat height).

The Capitol Complex armchair, produced by Cassina based on a design by Pierre Jeanneret, combines an oak frame with green “Racing” leather cushions. Its inverted V-shaped legs and the arrangement of the seat and backrest give it an architectural character, balanced by the warmth of the wood and the upholstered surfaces. Its relevance to 21st-century design lies in its exposed construction, the prominence of the materials, and the combination of comfort and formal simplicity—qualities that allow it to blend seamlessly into contemporary interiors. This display model retains its Cassina tag and has never been used.

Born in Geneva in 1896, Pierre Jeanneret studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1922, he began working in his new studio on Rue de Sèvres in Paris with his cousin, the designer Le Corbusier, with whom he shared research projects and design principles thanks to a deep professional relationship. In October 1927, the two decided to bring a young architect into their project who had already begun to make a name for herself on the architectural scene of the time: Charlotte Perriand. The collaboration among these three figures lasted until 1937 and was extremely fruitful, especially in the field of furniture design. It was a highly significant partnership, both in terms of the cultural significance of their achievements and their professional success. It was alongside Charlotte Perriand that they undertook the innovative project for “l’équipement de la maison,” the result of which was of great intellectual value and enjoyed considerable commercial success. In 1951, Le Corbusier proposed a new project to celebrate India’s independence and the nation’s embrace of modernity, which consisted of designing a city: Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab. Chandigarh, in northern India, is a city built from scratch. Designed by Le Corbusier, it emerged as an icon of freedom in the face of the colonialism of the past. Pierre Jeanneret is considered—despite the lack of documentation to support this—the designer of most of the furniture in Chandigarh.