Pierre Guariche for Steiner

PIERRE GUARICHE (Paris, 1926–Bandol, France, 1995) for Steiner.
Set of six “Tonneau” chairs, France, 1950.
Beech wood and plywood.
In good condition.
They bear the manufacturer’s labels.
Measurements: 75 x 49 x 42 cm (x6).
Designed by Pierre Guariche (1926–1995) and produced by the Steiner firm during the 1950s, these pieces reflect the quest for modern furniture based on a synthesis of technical innovation, functionality, and formal simplicity. The Tonneau model is one of Guariche’s most iconic designs. Its name, which means “barrel” in French, refers to the enveloping curvature of the seat and backrest, crafted from molded plywood using industrial techniques that produced continuous surfaces with great structural strength and remarkable visual lightness. In this piece, these surfaces feature a dark-stained finish that highlights the expressiveness of the wood grain, while the frame rests on carefully turned solid beech legs.
Pierre Guariche was a French designer, interior decorator, and architect known for the residential lamps he designed for Pierre Disderot in the 1950s, but he was also an innovative furniture designer and architect. He studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. He later joined the studio of another of his professors, Marcel Gascoin. He began exhibiting his work at the Salon des Arts Ménagers and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, avant-garde venues where the most prominent designers of the time—such as René-Jean Caillette, Joseph-André Motte, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Antoine Philippon, and Jacqueline Lecoq were among the designers who exhibited their experimental works at the salons of that era. After World War II, interest grew in the use of new methods and materials for the mass production of furniture. In 1951, Guariche began collaborating with Steiner, another major furniture manufacturer. He designed the innovative “Tonneau” chair, with a plastic and aluminum version in 1953 and another made of curved plywood in 1954. Around the same time, Guariche created numerous designs for the lighting manufacturer Pierre Disderot, seeking a modern, simple, and economical alternative to the opulence of traditional French designs.