Pair of Armchairs by Rene-Jean Caillet for Airborne, Circa 1950, France

DESCRIPTION: Pair of Armchairs by Rene-Jean Caillet for Airborne, Circa 1950, France Wooden frame with Brass details and re-upholstered seat cushions Very comfortable and stylish Bibliography: Les décorateurs des années 50, P. Favardin, Norma ed., 2012

CONDITION: Good condition. Wear consistent with age and use.

DIMENSIONS: Height: 78cm (31in) Width: 65cm (25.5in) Depth: 90cm (35.5in) Seat Height: 40cm (16in)

REFERENCE: FA0120

ABOUT THE DESIGNER: René-Jean Caillette was born in 1919, the son of a cabinetmaker. He followed his father’s trade, creating furniture designs that were functional and visually simple. In the period after World War II (1939–45) there was increased interest in using new methods and materials for furniture production. Manufacturers of materials such as formica, plywood, aluminum, and steel sponsored the salons of the Société des artistes décorateurs. Designers who exhibited their experimental work at the salons in this period included Caillette, Pierre Guariche, Joseph André Motte, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq. In 1950 Caillette’s work was discovered by George Charron, a major French furniture manufacturer. Caillette collaborated as a designer with Alain Richard, Genevieve Dangles and Joseph-André Motte, who called themselves “Group 4”. They created simple designs using materials such as plywood, plastic, rattan, and formica to create affordable modernist designs for mass production. In 1952 Caillette was awarded the René Gabriel prize, and in 1962 won the silver medal at the Milan Triennale. He designed furniture for Charron until 1972. Cailette died in 2005

ABOUT THE STYLE: Mid-Century Modern (MCM) is a design movement in interior, product, graphic design, architecture, and urban development that was popular from roughly 1945 to 1969, during the post–World War II period. The term was used descriptively as early as the mid-1950s and was defined as a design movement by Cara Greenberg in her 1984 book Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s. It is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement. The MCM design aesthetic is modern in style and construction, aligned with the Modernist movement of the period. It is typically characterized by clean, simple lines and honest use of materials, and it generally does not include decorative embellishments