Midcentury Furniture With a French Accent Dominates the New Design Miami / Paris
The annual fair’s maiden voyage to France focused on historical design and offered collectors with deep pockets the chance to take home some stunning—and rare—work.
Founded nearly 20 years ago in its namesake city, the Design Miami fair has expanded to an annual edition in Basel, Switzerland, and this week it opened its first iteration alongside the Paris+ art fair, with 27 galleries putting furniture, lighting, and other design objects in front of collectors. While its other incarnations often emphasize daring work by contemporary designers, the Paris outing focused on showing historical pieces, including a few sought-after knockouts by 20th-century heavy hitters. Here are some highlights.
Galleria Rossella Colombari showcased a striking, wood-and-glass dining set.
Photo by Mike Chino
It was designed in 1961 by Italian architect and designer Fausto Bontempi.
Photo by Mike Chino
Get the Pro Newsletter
What’s new in the design world? Stay up to date with our essential dispatches for design professionals.
Jousse Entreprise presented a colorful 1953 bookcase designed by Charlotte Perriand for the House of Mexico. It was joined by an assortment of Jean Prouvé chairs.
Photo by Mike Chino
Jean Royère’s red velvet Polar Bear seating may have been designed in 1958—but it looks just as fresh today in this living space curated by Galerie Jacques Lacoste.
Photo by Mike Chino
In a break from all of the historical work, Salon 94 showcased a dazzling suite of furniture by Max Lamb.ristic sideboard is made from polystyrene coated with silver nitrate.
Photo by Mike Chino
The futuristic sideboard is made from polystyrene coated with silver nitrate.
Photo by Mike Chino
A rare 1950s calfskin armchair by Charlotte Perriand pops amidst other midcentury furnishings presented by Galerie Downtown - Laffanou.
Photo by Mike Chino
Featured by Moderne Gallery, this 1968 show-stopper is one of just three freestanding sofas designed by Wharton Esherick.
Photo by Mike Chino
Jean Prouvé’s S.A.M. table No. 506 is joined by four Métropole No. 305 chairs in this dining set offered by Galerie Patrick Seguin.
Photo by Mike Chino
Galerie Patrick Seguin also exhibited one of the world’s first prefab homes: Jean Prouvé’s 6x6 Demountable House.
Photo by Mike Chino
Prouvé designed the dwelling to provide housing after World War II, although it was never mass produced.
Photo by Mike Chino
The structure can be assembled by three people in one day.
Photo by Mike Chino
Demisch Danant conjured up a seaside setting by pairing a Madonna del Monte coffee table and Azulejos panel by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance with a tubular ’70s sofa by Michel Boyer.
Photo by Mike Chino
Galerie Desprez Breheret debuted two massive, chunky chairs crafted by Dan Pollock from fallen wood collected in the California desert.
Photo by Mike Chino
Finnish artist and designer Anna Pesonen’s Dialogue seat was the talk of the show. Featured by Galerie Scene Ouverte, the sculptural chair for two is carved from a single block of marble.
Photo by Mike Chino
A chair by the studio Full Grown at Sarah Myerscough Gallery was grown from a tree.
Photo by Mike Chino
Also at Sarah Meyerscough, a spooky cabinet by Marlene Huissoud is covered with silkworm cocoons.
Photo by Mike Chino
Top Photo by Mike Chino.
Related Reading:
A Trash Bag Sofa, a Big Hairy Chandelier, and More Tactile Treasures From Design Miami 2022
Trying to Buy? ADU Rental Fees Can Now Be Used as Income to Secure Your Mortgage
Published
Topics
Design News