Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Cassina, the sole company with the authority to manufacture furniture designed by the inimitable Charlotte Perriand, recently opened an exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. A collaborative effort with Pernette Perriand Barsac, the exhibition not only includes replicas of Perriand’s visionary works, but also of the iconic 1929 Salon d’Automne interiors, in which Perriand presented her Equipement Interieur d’une Habitation furniture designs alongside Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret some 90 years ago.

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The Exhibition Focus

Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton
Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Perriand was best known for her obsession with structural design, and the designs of the environments she encountered during her travels around the world. The photos in the new Louis Vuitton show reflect those passions and are artfully displayed in one of Cassina’s iconic wooden Nuage bookcases. Here, they are ingeniously divided into different subjects that were most important to the designer, including Les Objects Trouves, Japan, The Mountains, and Prefabricated Architecture.

The Setting

Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton

In keeping with historical accuracy, the new exhibition almost flawlessly recreates the three artists’ premiere presentation at the Salon d’Automne — tubular metal furniture pieces and all. While the designs were harshly reviewed for their minimalism at the original exhibition, they still managed to leave a huge impact on the world before very long. Armchairs, tables, and chairs that eventually became the heart of Cassina’s renowned LC Collection complete the visual scene, but instead of using their now-standard modern finishes, these pieces were made using the fabrics, frames, and colors used explicitly in their original iterations. Various other pieces on display like the single bed were fashioned specifically for the new show.

More on Perriand

Perriand was a pioneer in the world of furniture design, and a key player in the birth of modern furniture. Her visionary brilliance was evident at an early age and continued until her death in 1999.

Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Barely 24 years old, Perriand burst onto the scene with a stunning bar under the roof design at the 1927 Salon d’Automne. This distinctive piece was built entirely from anodized aluminum and nickel-plated copper, and it was heartily celebrated by critics almost immediately upon its release. That acclaim solidified her relationship with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, which went on to make her an integral part of the legendary design studios at 35 rue de Sevres for the next 10 years.

Remembered by friends and colleagues for her devotion to benevolent and revolutionary philosophical theories, Perriand’s always work reflected her loyalty to those beliefs. After she stopped designing, she focused on projects for huge corporations like Air France.

Some of the iconic Charlotte Perriand furniture pieces featured in Cassina's new exhibition at the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Le Monde Nouveau de Charlotte Perriand will be on display through February 24th, 2020, so book your tickets now while you still can!