Pierre Chapo

Iconic piece of French design of the 1960s, characterized by an aesthetic that combines rustic robustness with a technical sophistication typical of high cabinetmaking.

PIERRE CHAPO (Paris, 1927-1987).
Coffee table "S18". Original design from the 1960s.
Elm wood, with a lava stone in the center.
Measurements: 35 x 82,5 x 49 cm.

The table is made of solid elm wood, a favorite material of Chapo for its hardness and expressive grain. The wood has a warm tone that highlights the organic character of the design. Its format is rectangular and low profile. The exposed joinery or interlocking box and tenon joints, a hallmark of Pierre Chapo, also stand out.

The tabletop features an elm perimeter frame that encloses a central panel of lava stone. This stone insert creates an interesting textural contrast: the softness and warmth of the wood versus the cool, matte, slightly textured surface of the stone. The color of the stone (a grayish beige tone) harmonizes with the elm without competing visually.

Pierre Chapo was initially interested in painting, but an encounter with a shipbuilding carpenter in 1947 introduced him to wood and carpentry and led him to study architecture at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After traveling in Scandinavia, Central America and working for a year in the United States, he returned to Paris and pursued his interest in wood, crafting furniture mainly from solid oak, elm, ash or teak with a dual concern for contemporary design and traditional know-how. In the French capital he opened his own workshop. Influenced by Charlotte Perriand's work for the Alpine ski resort of Les Arcs, his participation in the 1967 Salon de la Société des artistes décorateurs won him a bronze medal.