Pierre Jeanneret Pigeonhole Desk PJ-BU-02-A, India 1950s

The pj-bu-02-a “pigeon hole” desk by pierre jeanneret, india 1957. This incredibly rare, and highly sought after design has become a legendary design by renowned designer pierre jeanneret. Designed to be freestanding in the room, this desk features a a six-part pigeonhole bookcase for storage, and at the front a single deep drawer and cubbyhole. One side of the desk is comprised of a desk-wide slab leg and the other a tapered leg and smaller slab leg. Like the city it was intended for, it is a modest masterpiece of form following function, with studied consideration of formal balance and geometric harmony. The leather desk top has been replaced later but the wood remains in the most sought-after, unrestored condition, complete with the original painted written markings. Pierre jeanneret (1896-1967) is recognised as a pivotal figure in modernism. His collaborations with his cousin le corbusier are especially significant, particularly their codification of modernist architectural principles in five points towards a new architecture (1926). Towards the end of their careers the pair also designed a utopian modernist city in india – chandigarh, and jeanneret designed some of his most celebrated furniture designs for the administrative buildings in the city. Appears in the literature: “le corbusier, pierre jeanneret: chandigarh, india, ” galerie patrick seguin, pp. 248 – 249, 288 and “le corbusier, pierre jeanneret: the indian adventure, ” touchaleaume and moreau, p. 572. Provenance: department of higher education. Punjab, table 362 block 2.