Pierre Paulin, for Artifort

PIERRE PAULIN (Paris, 1927 – Montpellier, 2009) for Artifort.
F598 “Groovy” armchair, designed in 1972, produced in 1980.
Metal frame, molded foam, and upholstery in red “Tonus” fabric by Kvadrat.
In good condition.

Designed in 1972, the F598 armchair—known as “Groovy” or the “M Chair”—belongs to Pierre Paulin’s mature period and encapsulates his exploration of the seat as a continuous, sculptural form. Artifort officially documents the F598 model with an internal steel frame, molded foam, and an aluminum lower profile—a solution that visually eliminates the need for a conventional frame.

The composition is defined by two opposing curved forms: a deeply concave seat, which extends laterally down to the floor, and a separate, enveloping backrest. The red Tonus fabric by Kvadrat accentuates the continuity of these surfaces and the design’s powerful graphic presence. The model was produced by Artifort during the 1970s and 1980s.

Pierre Paulin was one of the key figures in French design during the second half of the 20th century. Through his collaboration with Artifort, he developed chairs such as “Mushroom,” “Ribbon,” and “Tongue,” characterized by the use of metal frames covered in foam and elastic fabrics to create organic forms with great freedom of expression. His work is widely represented in international institutions: the Museum of Modern Art in New York holds several of Paulin’s designs created for Artifort, while the Centre Pompidou houses, among an extensive collection of the designer’s works and projects, an F598 dated 1979.