Pierre Chapo B17C bookcase in elm France 1967

Pierre Chapo

France, 1927 – 1987
Designer, craftsman

Wonderful largest version of the B17 bookcases, the B17C designed by Pierre Chapo and mad in one of his own workshops in France, 1967. This magnificent bookcase is constructed from sturdy solid elm, showing a beautiful original patina and stunning wood grain. It’s ingeniously engineered for easy wall mounting, requiring just a handful of nuts, bolts, and interlocking wooden pegs.

In 1967, Pierre Chapo presented new creations at the Salon des Arts Ménagers, exhibiting the B17 bookshelf for the first time. The B17 is fixed to the wall, freeing up considerable floor space. The bookshelf, whose presence surprises by its discretion and elegance, comes in several versions of differing lengths and heights. The harmony of the lines between the uprights and the shelves is accentuated by the originality of the support system. Supports, as their name implies, normally prop up the shelves of a piece of furniture or else the jutting parts of buildings. Pierre Chapo decided not to take this universal law into account and modeled a support that fits into the upright, which means the shelf can be solidly fixed under its support. In a balance between gravity and the forces at play, the more weight goes on the shelf, the better its components slot into the upright.

The work of Chapo combines ancient woodworking skill and tradition with a contemporary approach. In designing his distinguished pieces, Solid oak, elm, teak, and ash were mainly used. After graduating from the Parisian École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in architectural studies, he travelled through Scandinavia, Central America, and the United States. After returning to the French capital, he opened his own gallery in 1958 on boulevard de l’Hôpital 14, where among other artists mainly his and Isamu Noguchi’s creations were on display. In 1960, he received a gold medal from the city of Paris as a token of appreciation for his contributions to the city. Pierre Chapo is for sure one of the best designers from French soil, clearly to be seen at his architectural designs and craftsmanship.

Literature; Pierre Chapo A Modern Craftsman Magen H Gallery 2017, page 96-101

Dining chairs not included but can be purchased here.