Pierre Guariche

PIERRE GUARICHE (Paris, 1926–Bandol, France, 1995) for Les Huchers-Minvielle.
Pair of Aquilon armchairs, 1962.
X-shaped mahogany bases and new upholstery in high-quality bouclé fabric.
The armchairs can be arranged together to form a sofa.
In excellent condition.
Measurements: 70 × 70 × 70 cm; seat height 37 cm.

Pair of Aquilon armchairs, designed by Pierre Guariche in 1962 for Les Huchers-Minvielle, France. With a low profile and rigorous geometry, the pieces are constructed around a mahogany cross-shaped base supporting an upholstered seat with clean lines and balanced proportions.

The warm richness of the wood complements the enveloping texture of the bouclé fabric, lending the ensemble a serene, sophisticated, and thoroughly contemporary presence. The visible, precise cross-shaped frame visually lightens the design and is one of the model’s most recognizable features.

Conceived with a modular approach, the Aquilon armchairs can be grouped together to form a sofa, revealing Guariche’s interest in flexible, functional furniture adapted to new ways of living. The pair particularly clearly embodies the rational elegance of postwar French design.

Pierre Guariche was a key figure in modern European design during the second half of the 20th century. Trained at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, he collaborated with firms such as Airborne, Steiner, Meurop, and Les Huchers-Minvielle, developing a body of work characterized by structural clarity, economy of means, and typological innovation.

His work spanned furniture, lighting, and interior design, with pieces that are now iconic, such as the Tonneau chair, his lighting fixtures for Disderot, and various modular systems. His designs are featured in collections such as that of the Centre Pompidou in Paris.