Patrick Pagnon and Claude Pelhaître for Ligne Roset

PATRICK PAGNON (Dijon, 1953) & CLAUDE PELHAÎTRE (Paris, 1954) for Ligne Roset.
Secretary desk, c. 1988.
Lacquered wood, walnut, and lacquered iron.
Measurements: 110 x 65 x 93 cm.
This writing desk epitomizes the design language of Pagnon & Pelhaître, characterized by formal simplicity, functionality, and the interplay of materials. The combination of lacquered wood, walnut, and lacquered iron creates interesting hallmarks of contrast between warm surfaces and elements with a distinctly structural character.
Pagnon & Pelhaître is one of the leading design duos in France from the final decades of the 20th century. Both trained at prestigious Parisian institutions—Pagnon at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs and Pelhaître at the École Boulle and later at the ENSAD—and in 1980 they founded their own studio, specializing in furniture, architecture, and interior design. Their work is characterized by a contemporary, refined, and functional design language based on geometry, modularity, and the adaptation of objects to new lifestyles. Throughout their career, they collaborated with renowned firms such as Ligne Roset, Cinna, Habitat, and Artelano, designing chairs, tables, sofas, storage systems, lighting, and commercial spaces. Notable among their creations are pieces such as Domus, Dune, Yoyo, and Playtime, which reflect their interest in flexible design with precise forms. Their work is fully in line with the renewal of French design in the late 20th century, and their designs are part of the history and catalogs of major European firms.