Background

Born in Paris in 1927, Pierre Chapo studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts. During his formative years, he traveled extensively through Northern Europe and the Americas, visiting, among other places, Taliesin West, the famed residence of Frank Lloyd Wright. These trips and encounters, including a serendipitous collaboration with a traditional shipwright, left a lasting influence on his work and approach to wood and cabinetmaking. Working closely with his wife, the painter and sculptor Nicole Lormier, he founded Galerie Chapo, a dedicated space for selling his designs alongside those of important artists like Isamu Noguchi. The gallery was one of the very first French stores dedicated to high-quality design. All his creations were initially handcrafted in his workshop in Clamart, near Paris. At the end of the 1960s, the family moved to the South of France and opened a new workshop near Avignon, where Chapo’s furniture is still produced today. As both designer and cabinetmaker, Chapo elevated the beauty and uniqueness of wood through timeless designs while celebrating his profound bond with nature. Despite his untimely death in 1987, his legacy lives on, inspiring contemporary designers who regard him as a true master.

Signature Style

Chapo saw wood as a living, breathing material whose raw qualities inspired shape and form. Drawing upon the inherent properties of the material, the graining, coloring, veining, and knots all became part of the design. Whenever possible, his pieces were assembled without metal fasteners, relying exclusively on elegant mortise-and-tenon joinery. Like a signature, Chapo used this method not only for its strength and durability but also as an aesthetic expression of honesty in construction. Each piece of furniture is defined by clear geometries that balance sturdiness and elegance.

Showstoppers

Designed in 1966, the S11 chair showcases Pierre Chapo’s innovative “48×72” assembly technique. Wrapped in finely crafted leather along the sides, back, and front, it combines strength with elegance. The visible wood joints at the corners highlight its stability and give the chair an architectural presence. Considered Chapo’s first sculptural chair, the S11 set the tone for his later designs.