Set of "A6" chairs, Joseph-André Motte for Steiner, wood and leather, 2000s – France

A splendid set of six chairs, designed by the renowned artist Joseph-André Motte and produced by the furniture company Steiner. The design of the A6 chairs stands out for its modernity while also embodying simplicity and elegance. It features a futuristic and somewhat minimalist profile, composed of only two identical pieces of wood serving as the backrest and seat, connected by a notched system and secured by a metal frame, which also forms the legs of the chair. Although this model was designed by Joseph-André Motte in 1959, it was never marketed at the time due to its modernity, and it was only in the 2000s that Steiner decided to produce it. This particular set is a special luxury edition, with very unusual upholstered seats: three in camel-coloured leather and three in black textured crocodile leather. Joseph-André Motte (1925-2003) was a key designer of post-war French modernism. Born in the southeast of France, he moved to Paris to study at the School of Applied Arts in Industry. Motte's designs are a blend of the elegance of classic profiles with modern and geometric shapes. He often used uncommon materials in his pieces, such as plywood, stainless steel, or rattan, making him one of the most significant French designers of the 20th century. His furniture is contextualised in a period when architecture, made of concrete, had a cold and sober appearance, so his furniture in various materials and colours humanised this 'cold' and impersonal architecture. Many of his designs were created in collaboration with the furniture company Steiner, particularly in the 1950s.