Paquebot Chair

An exercise in equilibrium, the lyrical curves and riveting lightness of this chair and ottoman celebrate the designer's contribution to the ocean liners of the 1950s. Arbus worked on several important ships, including the Le France - the largest, fastest and most luxurious of its time. The spirit often attributed to the work of André Arbus springs from a single-minded belief that the grand traditions of French cabinetmaking - whether intricate hand joinery, exotic veneers, hand polish, cast bronze or glowing parchment - are the tools of innovation rather than imitation. And so it was that the genius of the era came to map a course from the values of the 18th century to the luxury of the 20th - at home and at sea. Circa 1958.

A delicate, deeply pitched and tightly upholstered frame allows for both a sensuous line and unexpected comfort. Scrolled ends and saber legs, ending in brass sabot, speak to the designer's neoclassic vocabulary.

Width: 24 inches
Depth: 42.5 inches
Height: 43.5 inches