LUNEDÌ 8 GIUGNO 2026 
A Remarkable Ensemble by Pierre Chapo from a Private Collection
O n 8 June at Hôtel Drouot, auction house Lynda Trouvé will present a remarkable ensemble of furniture by Pierre Chapo, acquired directly by a discerning couple of collectors, Mr and Mrs Schouler, in the mid-1970s.
Distinguished by the quality of its provenance and the coherence of the pieces brought together, this ensemble offers a rare and particularly accomplished testimony to the designer’s work.
Pierre Chapo (1927 - 1987)
A leading figure in post-war French design, Pierre Chapo developed a body of work rooted in structural rigour and a profound understanding of materials. Solid elm, a wood he especially favoured, became the vehicle for a visual language combining constructive precision with great sensitivity.
Clean lines, exposed joinery and balanced proportions reveal a constant search for harmony between function and aesthetics. The laced leather seats, architectural bases and restrained volumes form a remarkably coherent ensemble, instantly recognisable to collectors and connoisseurs alike.
A discerning couple
Mr and Mrs Schouler first discovered Pierre Chapo’s creations at his gallery on Boulevard de l’Hôpital and were immediately drawn to the geometric simplicity of the lines, the honesty of the craftsmanship and the use of pale elm, reminiscent of the trees of their native Languedoc region.
Naturally, when furnishing their property in the South of France, they chose pieces by Pierre Chapo, acquired in 1975. Period photographs attest to furniture that was genuinely lived with and fully integrated into family life, in keeping with the deeply functional spirit championed by the designer.
The ensemble presented at auction perfectly illustrates Chapo’s highly distinctive vocabulary. Acquired directly from the gallery and preserved within the same family ever since, it reflects a thoughtful and discerning vision, entirely faithful to the spirit of Pierre Chapo.
Among the highlights of the ensemble is a solid elm bench from the iconic “à dos” model, designed circa 1960 (lot 197 – estimate: €4,000 – 6,000), presented alongside the T14C dining table known as “à piliers huit couverts” (lot 193 – estimate: €2,000 – 3,000) and its suite of six S24 chairs (lot 194 – estimate: €3,000 – 5,000). Created in 1967 for Dr Hiroshi Nakajima, this emblematic model is distinguished by its leather seats tensioned with laces.
The sale will also include a B10 bookcase with three removable shelves (lot 198 – estimate: €1,500 – 2,000), acquired at a later date, as well as an example of the celebrated R07A “petit buffet à deux portes” (lot 195 – estimate: €2,000 – 3,000).
Naturally, when furnishing their property in the South of France, they chose pieces by Pierre Chapo, acquired in 1975. Period photographs attest to furniture that was genuinely lived with and fully integrated into family life, in keeping with the deeply functional spirit championed by the designer.
The ensemble presented at auction perfectly illustrates Chapo’s highly distinctive vocabulary. Acquired directly from the gallery and preserved within the same family ever since, it reflects a thoughtful and discerning vision, entirely faithful to the spirit of Pierre Chapo.
Among the highlights of the ensemble is a solid elm bench from the iconic “à dos” model, designed circa 1960 (lot 197 – estimate: €4,000 – 6,000), presented alongside the T14C dining table known as “à piliers huit couverts” (lot 193 – estimate: €2,000 – 3,000) and its suite of six S24 chairs (lot 194 – estimate: €3,000 – 5,000). Created in 1967 for Dr Hiroshi Nakajima, this emblematic model is distinguished by its leather seats tensioned with laces.
The sale will also include a B10 bookcase with three removable shelves (lot 198 – estimate: €1,500 – 2,000), acquired at a later date, as well as an example of the celebrated R07A “petit buffet à deux portes” (lot 195 – estimate: €2,000 – 3,000).
