Jacques Charpentier for Roche Bobois

JACQUES CHARPENTIER (France, 1918–1986) for Roche Bobois.
Sofa, ca. 1970.
Chrome-plated metal frame and velvet.
Measurements: 75 x 64 x 88 cm.
A representative piece of 1970s French design, this sofa combines the comfort of its upholstered forms with a distinct architectural aesthetic. The frame, raised on a solid metal plinth, creates an interesting hallmark of contrast between the seat and the industrial precision of its base—a recurring hallmark in Charpentier’s work and in the furniture of that era. The designer’s sofas for Roche Bobois are part of the renewal of the domestic space that took place during the 1970s, when design began to explore materials such as steel, leather, and new textiles. Charpentier’s designs from this period, including the famous Apollo, showcase precisely this combination of enveloping forms and distinctly modern materials with a design language that straddles the line between Modernism and Space Age aesthetics.
Jacques Charpentier was a French designer and interior decorator trained at the École Boulle, from which he graduated in 1945. Beginning in the 1960s, he developed a significant career in furniture design, distinguishing himself through his use of stainless steel, Plexiglas, and other industrial materials. He worked with firms and studios such as Roche Bobois, Flat International, and Maison Jansen, and his work from the 1960s and 1970s has become a benchmark of avant-garde French design.