Chair "Tongue" by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in Jack Lenor Larsen Fabric

Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) was first trained as a ceramist and sculptor. But by joining the Camondo School of applied arts in his native country, Paulin undertakes a remarkable career as a furniture designer. In this prestigious institution, Paulin talents were soon noticed by two eminent professors: Maxime Old and Marcel Gascoin. In particular through Gascoin, for whom he also worked for a while, Paulin took contact with many personalities of the French scene of the design in the early 1950s. The breakthrough of Paulin back to 1953 when he presents his creations for furniture TV and the French branch of Thonet. International attention came from Holland in particular, when the Dutch entrepreneur Abraham Polak has acquired a license for one of Paulin chairs. A few years later, in 1957, Paulin made team with Artifort, another Dutch company. Collaboration between Artifort and Paulin has proved very successful and sustainable. During the 1960s and 1970s, Paulin has designed a large number of models, which many have become classics (instant).