Pierre Guariche. Desk in teak and lacquered metal. 1960s.

Pierre Guariche, by.

Desk in teak with its lacquered metal base. Black laminate top.

French work realized in the 1960s.

Dimensions: H 75 x W 161 x D 71 cm

Reference: LS56631534M

Pierre Guariche (1926-1995) is a French designer who studied at the National School of Decorative Arts from where he graduated in 1949. He completed an internship with the famous designer Marcel Gascoin and began his career in 1950 in creating his Rotaflex lamp. He published his first models alone, which he exhibited in various trade fairs (Salon des Arts Ménagers, Salon des Artistes Décorateurs) then attracted the attention of publishers such as Galerie MAI, Pierre Disderot and Steiner who published his furniture. Subsequently, he joined forces with two other decorators, Michel Mortier and Joseph-André Motte, with whom he founded the Atelier de Recherche Plastique (A.R.P.) in 1954 with the aim of creating a series of furniture for the publisher Charles Minvielle. They want to design practical furniture that fits into small spaces. The A.R.P. ended in 1957 and Guariche took charge of the furniture section of the Belgian company Meurop to gradually turn to interior architecture. He carries out various development projects: the General Council and the Prefecture of Essonne, the La Plagne winter resort, the Firminy hospital, the High Court of Créteil, etc. He received the René Gabriel Prize in 1965, awarded to a creator of economical and high-quality modern mass-produced furniture. Throughout his career, Guariche was mainly interested in standard, practical, simple, well-proportioned furniture, playing with different materials such as wood, metal or molded plastic. His creations are currently reissued by Maison du Monde and Sammode since 2018.

LES HUCHERS-MINVIELLE: Charles Minvielle steered the family business towards modernity by calling on members of the ARP in the early 1950s. In 1956, the ARP designed a furniture system by elements which would make its reputation. With a mounting system allowing the composition to be enlarged as needed, these elements offer an infinite number of solutions. At the same time, Charles Minvielle innovates by setting up its own distribution network. With this in mind, he founded Les Huchers, which merged in 1961 with Les Éléments Minvielle to become Les Huchers-Minvielle. Stores are located throughout France. Eager to diversify, the company developed an office sector and called on Pierre Guariche, Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq. In 1970, Charles Minvielle sold his company.