Early Pierre Chapo Set of Ten 'S45' Dining Chairs in Solid Elm

Pierre Chapo, set of ten 'S45' or 'Chlacc' dining chairs, solid elm, France, 1979

These S45 chairs, also known as Chlacc, are one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood and a commitment to pure and clean design and construction principles. The S45 is part of the 'Chlacc' system (Construction Homogène Lamélle Assemblée Collée Cloué, or Homegenous Laminated Assembled Glued Nailed Construction). With this system, Pierre Chapo developed his own patented wood-joining technique. Chapo took lengths of solid wood and would glue them together to create different-sized surfaces and volumes. This proces enabled Chapo to design lightweight furniture with slender lines. Due to the graphical design, the chair has a strong and sincere appearance and show the great craftsmanship and smart joint solutions that characterize Chapo's work. The frame of this chair features remarkable straight lines, which is in contrast with the slightly curved seating area, contributing to a sculptural appearance.

Pierre Chapo (1927-1987) was born in a family of craftsmen and trained as an architect at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Already from a young age, he felt the need to roam the world. He was only twenty-one when he left France in order to spend the next few years traveling through England and Scandinavia. In December of 1951, he was living back in Paris, where he met his future wife, Nicole. Their meeting was the beginning of a lifelong union. Together, the lovebirds travelled through South and North America being captivated by the architectural diversity. Back in France, he and his partner Nicole set up Société Chapo in 1957. Société Chapo was a design workshop and gallery in one where he showed his own creations. However, Nicole also presented her ceramics, and textiles here and they even exhibited other great designers of that period. In 1958, they opened their famous gallery at 14 Boulevard de l'Hopital. Chapo's work originated by means of special commissions that could later be adapted to universal needs. Throughout his career, Chapo combined his interest for contemporary design with his love for traditional craftsmanship. In his designs, he was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and the ideas of Bauhaus. The three principles that motivated Pierre Chapo were 'material, form, and function.' He measured his furniture by means of golden ratio and used elmwood as his preferred material. Unfortunately, Chapo fell ill, and he died in 1987, however, until his last day, he kept on designing and working.

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