Pierre Chapo 'Table à Géométrie Variable' in Solid Oak

Pierre Chapo, 'Table à Géométrie Variable' (TGV) dining table, solid oak, design 1960

"Table à Géométrie Variable" refers to the design’s dynamic configuration and the adaptable nature of the tabletop. The result of meticulous mathematical research and a Scandinavian shipbuilding technique, this table embodies both precision and expert craftsmanship. Two pairs of extension leaves (four adjustable elements in total) allow for three different configurations, offering varying widths. When fully extended, the table reaches a maximum length of 225 cm. The base showcases a sculptural and architectural presence, defined by a rhythmically structured vertical composition. It consists of two fluted wooden panels, following a concave curve.

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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