For Jon - Fabric Sample of Lounge Chairs by Etienne-Henri Martin France 1960s

The “Edouard” lounge chair is often described as a “caquetoire”, in other (non-French) words a conversation chair. This type of seating was an armchair style which emerged during the European Renaissance in France. As the name suggests, this type of chair was meant for sitting for elongated periods to chat. Generally, these chairs were also highly regarded for their aesthetic value as well, which can also be said about this exceptional chair model. The Edouard is a sculptural model with a blonde oak frame that is characteristic of the French designer duo. The design showcases the wide variety of shapes and forms of the solid oak frame, from the hand-sculpted, organic curving lines to the straighter spindles consisting the backrest. Naturally, a conversation chair needs to be first and foremost functional and comfortable, therefore the back is slightly tilted, and the seat raised, aided by the generous seat and back cushions. The light coloured upholstery beautifully complements the wood and the small loops of the bouclé highlight the smoothness of the frame’s surfaces. The French caquetoire chairs...

Marco Zanuso, born in 1916, was one of a group of Italian designers from Milan shaping the international idea of "good design" in the postwar years. After graduating from the Politecnico di Milano in 1939 with a degree in architecture, and serving in the Second World War, he opened his own office in 1945 and was a pioneer of the use of modern materials. Along with other pieces - such as the ‘Lady’ and the ‘Martingala’ chairs...