Joseph-André Motte, Pair of ‘Chistera’ armchairs

Joseph-André Motte (1925 - 2013)

Pair of tripod ‘Chistera’ armchairs
circa 1949

The seat is completely made of woven rattan marrow, inspired from the glove hollow form of Basque Pelota game called “Chistera”. Handles on each side of the base, provide a useful aspect to these seats and match research and expectations of the time. This large shell lies on a six branches beech star-shape base. Three tips are holding the seat and the three others form the base. Each tapered leg, is connected to the others through a cream lacquered steel knot. Designed in 1949, this piece was edited the year after by Rougier et Cie. Then, Motte exhibited it at the “Salon des Arts Ménagers” in 1953 within a set of modular furniture for a 10 m2 space named “Séjour pour un jeune ménage”. This armchair became so successful that it received the silver medal in 1954 at the Milano Triennial. Emblematic of Joseph-André Motte’s work with its simple and light shapes, this seat meets perfectly the contemporary stylistics research of the time.

Height 74 cm (29 in) - Width 77 cm (30 ¼ in) - Depth 71 cm (28 in)

Literature
- «Les décorateurs des années 50», Patrick Favardin, éd. Norma, Paris, 2002, modèle similaire reproduit pages 240-241.
- «Avant...les arts ménagers», in Art et Décoration n°32, 1953, p. 37
- «Le mobilier contemporain, au Salon des Arts Ménagers», René Chavance, in Art et Décoration n°33, 1953, couverture et p.XXIII