Image source: Vitra — Fauteuil Direction
© Vitra and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Fauteuil Direction
Jean Prouvé's 1951 Fauteuil Direction: an upholstered armchair with wooden armrests on a steel frame
650 × 815 × 625 mm
1951
Approx. $4,000 (reference price; varies by region and retailer)
Official product information
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Description
Overview
The Fauteuil Direction is credited to Jean Prouvé, 1951. Vitra calls it a comfortably upholstered armchair with fabric or leather covers; its design follows structural requirements.
Construction
- Seat and backrest in recyclable polyurethane foam (V-Foam) with a fabric or leather cover
- Solid wood armrests in oak or American walnut
- Steel frame of bent sheet and tube, smooth powder-coat surface
- Hard or felt glides, depending on the floor
Specifications
- Fact sheet drawing: 650 mm wide, 625 mm deep, 815 mm high
- Seat height 505 mm (445 mm under load, EN 1335-1)
Story
A structural vocabulary
Vitra's page says the design of the Fauteuil Direction reflects Prouvé's characteristic aesthetic vocabulary, which is based on structural requirements.
Image source: Vitra — Fauteuil Direction · © Vitra and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy
Table seating
The fact sheet describes it as a compact, comfortable armchair especially suited for table seating, and says it also cuts a fine figure in lobbies, restaurants and waiting areas.
More by Jean Prouvé
Guéridon
Jean Prouvé's round wooden Guéridon of 1949, made for the University of Paris, in two sizes
Tabouret Haut
Jean Prouvé's 1942 bar stool in solid oak, with a chromed steel ring that serves as footrest
Cité
Prouvé's 1930 Cité armchair for Nancy's student halls, with steel runners and leather belt armrests
Trapèze
Jean Prouvé's Trapèze table of 1950/1954, from Antony: trapezoidal steel legs and a black top
Collection
Jean Prouvé Collection
Vitra's Jean Prouvé Collection: furniture produced with the Prouvé family since 2000, from the Standard chair to the Compas Direction desk, in original colours.
