Pierre Paulin

Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) was born in Paris and became one of the most important French designers of the Twentieth Century. In 1952 his work came to the attention of the renown furniture company Thonet with whose support he explored modern materials and techniques in the manner of his American compatriots such as Eames and Saarinen. He was then invited to join Artifort in 1956 who again supported his work in the exploration of style and form. He was awarded many prestigious commissions such as collaborating to renovate a wing of the Louvre Museum and the private apartments of Georges Pompidou at the Eleysee Palace and later to create furniture for the Office of Francois Mitterand. Although designing for the elite of French culture he was also instrumental in bringing good design to the massess with his emphasis on rigorous design and lack of excessive ornamentation.