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Pierre Guariche (France, 1925-1995)

Designer and architect Pierre Guariche was an important voice in the modern lighting and furniture design movement of post-war France.

 

 

 

Guariche studied under René Gabriel at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and began showing his work in his early 20s. In 1954 he founded the Atelier des Recherches Plastiques (Plastics Research Workshop) with Joseph-Andre Motte and Michel Mortier. Guariche is perhaps best known for his work with the Belgian firm Meurop, where he designed high-quality affordable furniture, specializing in chairs and multidirectional, articulated lighting and and he was an eager pioneer in the use of new industrial materials and production techniques that emerged in the 1950s. His laminated plywood Tonneau chair (1954) for Steiner is a classic of the era.

Guariche studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (the national design academy) under René Gabriel — a designer, known for his quality, mass-produced furnishings, who served as a director of the postwar Ministry of Reconstruction. Two years after graduating in 1949, Guariche opened his own design firm, and he was soon creating pieces for numerous companies, including the lighting manufacturer Disderot.

Wood and metal were rationed in the years following the war and Guariche learned to do more with less. His chairs of the early 1950s include several designs with narrow, softly angular wooden frames; others, like the Tonneau chair, feature a single piece of molded plywood set atop metal legs. His lamps of the period are likely his best-known works. They include delicate compositions of slender steel tubes, and more flamboyant pieces such as the Kite lamp, with its curved metal reflector panel.

 

Always on the lookout for new materials, Guariche spent several years in the mid-1950s operating a firm making furniture in fiberglass and other plastics, along with Joseph André Motte and others. After 1957 — when Guariche was named head of design for the Belgian company Meurop and given a brief to create stylish, up-to-date chairs and cabinets — he began to look to America for ideas. In the mid-1960s, he produced several lines of deeply upholstered, rounded lounge chairs inspired by the space-age look, and gave them names like Jupiter, Polaris, and Luna. While Guariche always kept pace with his times, throughout his career he showed a consistent talent for producing elegant, eye-catching forms using a minimum of materials.

 

Sources: https://www.artsy.net/artist/pierre-guariche ; https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/pierre-guariche/furniture/?content=expanded

Since 1989 our studio - JAS - works on prestigious projects internationally for both private and commercial spaces. Our activities are split into three domains: design studio, manufacturing and interior design consultancy.

Since the early 1980’s Jonathan designed or supplied lighting and furniture for more than 150 restaurants, clubs and bars in Paris alone. In the interior design field, he also intervenes on the concept creation and brand design experience. To name a few: Les Bains Douches, Comptoir Marrakech, Renaissance hotel, Castel, Nobu, numerous Costes restaurants and bars in Paris, Momo's and Sketch in London, Aroma Café in Bahrein, Club Med suites, Saint James hotel, Royal Mansour, Ping Pong London.

We also offers consultancy advice for international design firms with luxury projects in Morocco by overseeing artisanal production units.

Our studio designs and produces bespoke brass lighting, furniture and accessories with a style characterised by the double ambition of being modern and familiar, universal yet poetic. Each product embraces a contemporary outlook on our rich Moroccan heritage.

Our lighting collections are mainly handcrafted in Leiria, a small city in Portugal reputed for its exquisite glass making, and Rabat Morocco.

Our know-how stems from combining traditional materials such as wicker, rattan and leather with brass using meticulous workmanship.

Our bespoke collections represent 35 years of passion and know-how in the fields of decorative arts and interior design. Over these years we have built a strong ecosystem within Moroccan artisanry, with the aim of perpetuating our cultural heritage.

Each product design is customisable and therefore adapted to all types of clients or professionals for small and big scale projects. All items are also made-to-measure and available upon order.

Craftsmanship

Handcrafted between France, Portugal and Morocco with exclusive French and Italian resources, our pieces honour the relationship between meticulous workmanship and quality materials through the thickness, finishes and fixtures of each creation.

Due to the handmade nature each piece is unique and might vary slightly in finish.

Materials

Brass and glass, the central element of most creations, are available in an array of finishes.

The finish you select and the way you care for your purchase throughout the years results in one of a kind pieces. Since Brass is a metal that works well with a multitude of materials, our studio associates it with a unique palette of colours and textures.

Fabric and wicker are used to design lampshades; mosaics and marbles form table tops and bases; lamp stems are sheathed in hand pleated leather by artisan saddlers. Hand-engraving and brass openwork, core know-hows of our studio, bring forth a new perspective on each design.

Practical Lights

  • Built with a sophisticated pear shaped joint (patented design), extendible arms and functional handles.

  • Equipped with optional latest led sensory dimming or wireless technologies.

  • Available in a variety of sizes to cover all types of living areas.

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