Jean PROUVÉ Armchair mod. 352 known as "Direction" - 1952 Structure in folded and lacquered sheet metal and tubular steel, seat and back in grey leather (refurbished), armrests in natural oak. 81 × 62.5 × 60 cm Provenance Office of Camille Montagné, architect, Paris Office of André Bergerioux, architect, Paris then by descent Artcurial sale, 28 February 2017, lot 13 (from a pair) Private collection (...) Downtown Gallery, François Laffanour Private collection Historical background: André Bergerioux, an architect who was awarded the second Prix de Rome in 1951, set up near the Odéon in Paris in 1960, taking over the estate of another architect, also a Prix de Rome winner, Camile Montagné. Montagné not only gave him the premises, but also Jean Prouvé's furniture (Présidence desk, also sold at Artcurial under no. 11) and a pair of "Direction" armchairs, which André Bergerioux kept throughout his life. It is one of these armchairs that we have the pleasure of rediscovering and representing today with its impeccable pedigree. Bibliography: Peter Sulzer, Jean Prouvé. complète/ Complete works. Volume 3: 1944-1954, Birkäuser, Basel, 2005, model reproduced and referenced p.214, 215, under n°1209.4 Patrick Seguin, Jean Prouvé, Galerie Patrick Seguin, Paris, 2017, vol. 1, model referenced and reproduced p.148 to 151, 162. A "Direction" armchair, mod. 352, with folded sheet, tubular steel structure in lacquer and oak armrests by Jean Prouvé 1952 31.89 × 24.61 × 23.62 in. Jean PROUVÉ