128 - JEAN PROUVÉ (France, 1901–1984) for Vitra.

JEAN PROUVÉ (France, 1901–1984) for Vitra. “307/G-Star” stool. G-Star RAW reissue, c. 2010. Steel and wood, with a powder-coated finish. In good condition with signs of wear consistent with its age. Measurements: 44.5 x 45.5 x 43.5 cm. “Tabouret 307” stool, designed by Jean Prouvé. G-Star RAW reissue “Tabouret No. 307” stool, designed by Jean Prouvé in 1951 and reissued in 2011 by Vitra in collaboration with the Dutch firm G-Star RAW, as part of the special Prouvé RAW edition, developed with the participation of the designer’s family. The piece features a powder-coated steel frame and an ergonomically shaped wooden seat, whose silhouette evokes the shape of a tractor seat. The hallmarks of the geometric solidity of the frame and the curvature of the seat reflect Prouvé’s conception of furniture as a synthesis of engineering, functionality, and formal expression. Originally conceived in the early 1950s, the “Tabouret No. 307” is part of a series of seats developed by Prouvé based on his reflections on ergonomics and the possibilities of industrial manufacturing. The shape of the seat evokes technical and agricultural furniture, reinterpreted here through a refined design language. Jean Prouvé was one of the leading figures in 20th-century architecture and industrial design. Trained as a metalworker, he forged a unique career that brought together engineering, architecture, furniture design, and research into manufacturing processes. In 1923, he opened his first workshop in Nancy. Among his most renowned furniture designs are the Standard chair, the Cité armchair, the S.A.M. Tropique table, and various stool models. His architectural work includes the famous Maisons Tropicales, designed to address the climatic conditions of West Africa, and the Maison du Peuple in Clichy, created in collaboration with other architects. Prouvé’s legacy has had a decisive influence on subsequent generations of architects and designers. His creations are part of the collections of major international institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.