Item Description
Few chairs live up to their name as well as the Orange Slice. Pierre Paulin designed it in 1960 for Artifort, and its form is exactly that of a fruit segment: two curved, overlapping shells, one forming the seat and the other the sweeping backrest. It is playful and sculptural, and surprisingly comfortable. Paulin was one of the great figures of postwar French design, and the Orange Slice remains one of his most recognizable creations. This example was made around 1990 and has spent its life in a private library, where it was used only sparingly. It still wears its original orange wool upholstery, a fine, textured weave in a rich, saturated colour that looks different from every angle. The shell is a single smooth form with neat piping along the edges, and it sits on slender chrome tubular legs with black feet, so it appears to float above the floor. The legs attach to the shell with a clean, angular V-shaped bracket, which is a pleasure to look at from behind. The chair is deep and low, and it invites you to sit back, or to sit sideways with your legs over one arm, as Paulin intended. It is an eye-catching accent in a living room, reading corner or bedroom, and a pair would make a bold statement. In orange, it works well against both neutral interiors and strong colours. Condition: Very good vintage condition. The original orange wool upholstery is clean, with hardly any wear and only very slight fading on the back panel. The chrome frame is in good condition. Provenance: Private library in The Netherlands
