Jean Prouvé Rare Green Compas Desk
About the Item
- Creator:Jean Prouvé (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 47 in (119.38 cm)Depth: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1060425741232
Jean Prouvé
Engineer and metalsmith, self-taught designer and architect, manufacturer and teacher, Jean Prouvé was a key force in the evolution of 20th-century French design, introducing a style that combined economy of means and stylistic chic. Along with his frequent client and collaborator Le Corbusier and others, Prouvé, using his practical skills and his understanding of industrial materials, steered French modernism onto a path that fostered principled, democratic approaches to architecture and design.
Prouvé was born in Nancy, a city with a deep association with the decorative arts. (It is home, for example, to the famed Daum crystal manufactory.) His father, Victor Prouvé, was a ceramist and a friend and co-worker of such stars of the Art Nouveau era as glass artist Émile Gallé and furniture maker Louis Majorelle. Jean Prouvé apprenticed to a blacksmith, studied engineering, and produced ironwork for such greats of French modernism as the architect Robert Mallet-Stevens. In 1931, he opened the firm Atelier Prouvé. There, he perfected techniques in folded metal that resulted in his Standard chair (1934) and other designs aimed at institutions such as schools and hospitals.
During World War II, Prouvé was a member of the French Resistance, and his first postwar efforts were devoted to designing metal pre-fab housing for those left homeless by the conflict. In the 1950s, Prouvé would unite with Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret (Le Corbusier’s cousin) on numerous design projects. In 1952, he and Perriand and artist Sonia Delaunay created pieces for the Cité Internationale Universitaire foundation in Paris, which included the colorful, segmented bookshelves that are likely Prouvé’s and Perriand’s best-known designs. The pair also collaborated on 1954’s Antony line of furniture, which again, like the works on 1stDibs, demonstrated a facility for combining material strength with lightness of form.
Prouvé spent his latter decades mostly as a teacher. His work has recently won new appreciation: in 2008 the hotelier Andre Balazs purchased at auction (hammer price: just under $5 million) the Maison Tropicale, a 1951 architectural prototype house that could be shipped flat-packed, and was meant for use by Air France employees in the Congo. Other current Prouvé collectors include Brad Pitt, Larry Gagosian, Martha Stewart and the fashion designer Marc Jacobs.
The rediscovery of Jean Prouvé — given not only the aesthetic and practical power of his designs but also the social conscience his work represents — marks one of the signal “good” aspects of collecting vintage 20th-century design. An appreciation of Prouvé is an appreciation of human decency.
Find antique Jean Prouvé chairs, tables, chaise longues and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Jean Prouvé Black Compas Desk, 1950sBy Jean ProuvéLocated in New York, NYElegant desk by Jean Prouvé in black color. Produced by Atelier Jean Prouvé in 1950s. Original Oak top.Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Jean Prouvé "Guéridon" Table, 1950sBy Jean ProuvéLocated in New York, NYJean Prouvé "Guéridon" pedestal table, manufactured by Atelier Prouvé for the use in university dining halls. In 1951 it appeared in Prouvés catalog as "Cafeteria". Bent sheet steel,...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsSheet Metal
- Jean Prouve Lounge Chair, 1949By Jean ProuvéLocated in New York, NYLounge chair manufactured by Atelier Jean Prouve for Franco, U. S. Memorial hospital in Saint - Lo. From 1947 to 1949 Charlotte Perriand acted as interior architect consultant for al...Category
Vintage 1940s French Industrial Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set of Ten Jean Prouvé "Standard" Chairs, 1950sBy Jean ProuvéLocated in New York, NYGreat early set of ten black "Standard" chairs, style 305 manufactured by Atelier Prouve in the 1950s. Offered as a complete set. Molded plywood seats and backs, bent steel enamele...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Rare Large Vintage Carl Aubock TableBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in New York, NYAn unusually large Carl Aubock, Viennese succession, table. This rare example is made of solid wood and has excellent patina.Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Executive Desk by Omann JunLocated in New York, NYOmann Jun executive desk, walnut newly refinished in medium brown. Curved top, four locking drawers and sculptural legs with brass detail.Category
20th Century Danish Desks
MaterialsBrass
- Jean Prouvé Compas Direction Desk in Natural Oak and Black Metal for VitraBy Jean Prouvé, VitraLocated in Glendale, CAJean Prouvé Compas Direction desk in natural oak and black metal for Vitra. Originally designed in 1953, Prouvé's iconic desk is based the design on t...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writin...
MaterialsSteel, Metal
- Jean Prouve Desk, 1934By Jean ProuvéLocated in Paris, FRJean Prouvé "C.P.D.E" variable equipment office, 1934-35. Legs in aubergine lacquered folded sheet metal. Drawers in green lacquered folded sheet metal. Rubber top. Bibliog...Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Industrial desk in a style of Jean ProuvéBy Jean ProuvéLocated in Nijlen, VANThis nice desk is probably from the 1950s from France. This type of industrial furniture is typified by its industrial but elegant look. Someone who was very good at this was Jean Pr...Category
Vintage 1950s Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Jean Prouvé, Cité Desk, likely 1940s, original conditionBy Jean ProuvéLocated in Wargrave, BerkshireCité desk with drawer, designed by Jean Prouvé and made in his workshop, Ateliers Jean Prouvé in Nancy, France, probably 1940s Totally original with cream enamel painted metal frame...Category
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Jean Prouve Style La Residence Universitaire Jean Zay Student DeskBy Jean ProuvéLocated in West Hollywood, CAIn the style of Jean Prouve a patinated eggshell blue student desk with single drawer and in inset white laminate top from the dormitories of the La Residence Universitaire Jean Zay,...Category
Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood, Beech
- Vintage Industrial Jean Prouvé Style One Seat School DeskBy Jean ProuvéLocated in Amsterdam, NLWonderful Vintage Industrial school desk. In the style of Jean Prouvé Striking French design from the 1950s /60s. Green lacquered met...Category
Vintage 1950s French Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal