Pierre Jeanneret

PIERRE JEANNERET (Geneva, 1896-1967).
Pigeonhole Desk, model PJ-BU-02-A, Chandigarh, India. ca.1957
Solid teak wood.
Top with leather surface.
Frame with pull-out side drawer and lower open compartment.
Marked: PJ/PATH/013.
From administrative buildings in Chandigarh, India.
In good condition, with signs of use according to its age.
Measurements: 74 x 122 x 82,5 cm.

This desk, known as "Pigeonhole Desk" (model PJ-BU-02-A), is part of the furniture designed by Pierre Jeanneret for the city of Chandigarh, one of the most emblematic projects of the modern movement developed together with Le Corbusier in India during the 1950s. Conceived for administrative use, it responds to a functional and rigorous aesthetic, where structural clarity and honesty of materials are fundamental.

Made of solid teak wood, the design combines constructive solidity and formal simplicity, incorporating practical solutions such as the side drawer and the lower open compartment. The leather surface introduces a warm and functional contrast. The original marking "PJ/PATH/013" reinforces its authenticity and its direct link to the administrative buildings of Chandigarh.

Today, this type of piece is among the most valued pieces of 20th century design, standing out for its historical relevance, its material quality and its strong presence on the international market.

Pierre Jeanneret studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Geneva. In 1922 he began working in his new workshop in rue de Sèvres, Paris, with his cousin, also a designer, Le Corbusier. 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.

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.