Pierre Chapo T02A dining table in solid elm France 1963

Pierre Chapo

France, 1927 – 1987
Designer, craftsman

Beautiful early example of the T02A dining table designed by Pierre Chapo and crafted in his own workshop in Gordes, France in 1963. This table is a special early version from the very first production, made with the stunning and rare French elm wood. Interestingly, a shift occurred in Chapo’s production due to a disease affecting French Elm trees. He transitioned to Canadian elm, which has a different wood tone and fewer visible wood grains. The T02 table is a round model from the first generation of Chapo furniture. The product of deep thought about the evolution of society and its needs, the table is one of the great Chapo classics. Composed of four cylindrical legs and a top with slanted edges. A beautiful detail are the connections used to connect the different parts of the wood used to make the top, similar to how Charlotte Perriand made her pieces. The simple design makes it a timeless and sophisticated piece. The chair on the picture is not included in this listing and can be purchased separately.

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. The work by Pierre Chapo is parallel to the designs by Charlotte Perriand. Due to the increase of demand for those pieces, Pierre Chapo’s work is highly sought after as its similar in many ways. 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 80-81