Pierre Jeanneret

PIERRE JEANNERET (Geneva, 1896-1967).
Hanging armchair "PJ-SI-07-A", ca.1952.
Indian teak wood, chains and ropes.
Slight damage.
Measurements: 78.5 x 51 x 61 cm.

The hanging armchair "PJ-SI-07-A", designed by Pierre Jeanneret, embodies a playful and daring form of experimentation, far removed from conventional modern design.

The design is articulated around two wooden profiles that support the seat suspended by four chains. This system generates a subtle inclination: the backrest, formed by tensioned parallel ropes, is slightly lower than the front. Despite its structural appearance, the armchair is surprisingly comfortable, thanks to its hanging seat that allows for gentle rocking.

Made of solid Indian teak, the chair retains its authenticity and material richness. The teak, with its warm cognac-like tone, has a lively and natural texture. Its surface, treated with several original layers of shellac, offers a soft, irregular sheen that accentuates the individuality of each piece, in contrast to today's industrial finishes.

The "PJ-SI-07-A" hanging armchair is part of the Chandigarh project that Pierre Jeanneret, together with Le Corbusier, carried out in India in the 1950's. Jeanneret is considered the author of most of the furniture in the series. The furniture was minimalist in style, in keeping with the modern movement championed by these authors, but manufactured in India by local craftsmen. The project began in 1951, when Le Corbusier suggested celebrating India's independence and the nation's opening to modernity by designing a city, Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab. Chandigarh, in northern India, is a city built from nothing. Designed by Le Corbusier, it was born as an icon of freedom from the colonialism of the past. Pierre Jeanneret's experience in India lasted until the end of his days in 1967 and his close and continuous contact with the local territory led his furniture to incorporate essential forms with simple materials. Straight, pure and robust lines combine with clean, geometric and simple shapes in which form is allied to function and the handcrafted warmth of teak.

Born in Geneva in 1896, Pierre Jeanneret studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In 1922, he began working in his new studio in rue de Sèvres, Paris, with his cousin, fellow designer Le Corbusier, with whom he shared research projects and design criteria thanks to a deep professional relationship. In October 1927, the two decided to incorporate into their project a young architect who had already begun to make a name for herself on the architectural scene of the time: Charlotte Perriand. The collaboration of the three personalities lasted until 1937 and was extremely fruitful, especially in the field of furniture design. It was a very significant cooperation, both in terms of the cultural interest of their achievements and in terms of professional success. It was together with Charlotte Perriand that they tackled the innovative project for "l'équipement de la maison", the result of which was of great intellectual value and considerable commercial success. Today Jeanneret's work can be found in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Vitra Designs Museum, the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, the Museum for Gestaktung Zurich, the Museums of India and the Perre Jeanneret Museum.