Jean Prouvé completed his training as a metal artisan before opening his own workshop in Nancy in 1924. In the following years he created numerous furniture designs, and in 1947 Prouvé established his own factory. Due to disagreements with the majority shareholders, he left the company in 1953. During the ensuing decades, Prouvé served as a consulting engineer on a number of important architectural projects in Paris.
He left his mark on architectural history again in 1971, when he played a major role in selecting the design of Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers for the Centre Pompidou as chairman of the competition jury. Prouvé's work encompasses a wide range of objects, from a letter opener to door and window fittings, from lighting and furniture to façade elements and prefabricated houses, from modular building systems to large exhibition structures – essentially, almost anything that is suited to industrial production methods.
In close cooperation with the Prouvé family, Vitra began in 2002 to issue re-editions of designs by this great French constructeur.
JEAN PROUVÉ
leather Premium
cognac (97)
brandy (93)
plum (87)
brown (77)
camel (75)
olive (74)
clay (73)
snow (72)
sand (71)
chesnut (69)
chocolate (68)
asphalt (67)
nero (66)
granite (65)
cement (64)
cashew (63)
ochre (62)
umbra grey (61)
smoke blue (60)
jade (59)
khaki (58)
red stone (22)
Leather Premium is a relatively smooth cowhide leather with a flat grain and fine top sheen. It is dyed-through and lightly pigmented. The semi-aniline leather is soft to the touch, like a leather glove. Leather Premium is available in 22 colours.
Material Semi-aniline nappa leather with a very soft and supple feel.
Thickness 1.1–1.3 mm
Fastness to light Type 5
Fastness to rubbing Grade 4 dry and wet
> black Twill fabric, smoked oiled oak armrests, deep black base
> cognac Twill fabric, natural oiled oak armrests, echru base
customise your Fauteuil de Salon
ready-made Fauteuil de Salon
inspiration
beige (01)
black (02)
Cité is a plain-weave cotton textile that fulfils the technical requirements of a nearly self-supporting fabric. Its two neutral colour tones are ideally suited for the Prouvé Collection, for which the fabric was developed. The fabric is soft to the touch yet still robust and durable. The Cité fabric is available in two colours.
Material 100% cotton.
Weight 405 g/m² (11.9 oz/y²).
Abrasion resistance 40,000 Martindale.
Fastness to light Type 5.
Fastness to rubbing Grade 3–4 dry and wet.
Pilling Grade 3–4.
Cité fabric
smooth ecru
powder-coated (88)
smooth coffee
powder-coated (80)
smooth chocolate powder-coated (40)
smooth deep black powder-coated (12)
smooth japanese red powder-coated (06)
base – metal (smooth)
natural oak, oiled (70)
smoked oiled oak (90)
oiled American walnut (75)
armrests – solid wood
The high percentage of natural fibres gives Twill very pleasant tactile qualities and an inviting appearance. Extremely durable with excellent abrasion resistance, it combines the qualities typically found in home furnishings with the demanding requirements of the project sector. Twill is available in 18 colours.
Material 70% new wool, 30% polyamide
Weight 325 g/m² (9.6 oz/y²)
Abrasion resistance 100,000 Martindale
Fastness to light Type 6
Fastness to rubbing Grade 4–5 dry and wet
Pilling Grade 4–5
Twill fabric
light red (13)
dark red (12)
coconut (11)
ice blue (10)
jade grey (09)
pearl (08)
black (07)
dark grey (06)
brown (05)
ink blue (04)
blue-grey (03)
cognac (02)
light grey (01)
The Fauteuil de Salon combines plain surfaces into a complete architectural form with a comfortable seat and backrest. Rediscovered in the archives of the French design engineer, the chair’s colour was adapted for modern tastes. Thanks to the armrests in oiled solid wood and Prouvé’s typical philosophy of focusing on design factors, Fauteuil de Salon goes perfectly with other products in the Prouvé Collection.
Jean Prouvé, who always considered himself a design engineer, was also the designer and manufacturer of his product ideas. His unique range of designs includes letter openers, door and window fittings, lamps and furniture – and even prefabricated houses and modular construction systems; essentially, anything that can be designed and industrially manufactured.
Seat and backrest Polyurethane foam; upholstery: Twill or Cité fabrics, or leather Premium.
Armrests Solid wood, oiled; natural oak, smoked oak or American walnut.
Base Round and moulded sheet steel, powder-coated (smooth).
Glides Glides for carpets or glides with felt pads for hard floors.
