An authentic vintage Pierre Jeanneret V-Type Chair, dating from circa 1958–59 and produced for the Chandigarh project in India.

The V-Type Chair is one of Jeanneret's most distinctive institutional chair designs from Chandigarh. Its construction is defined by the strong V-shaped side supports beneath the seat, which give what is otherwise a relatively simple chair a very architectural profile.

Although we have bought and sold a large number of Pierre Jeanneret pieces over the years, this particular model has always been relatively difficult to find. We have seen many examples, but have bought very few. On a number of occasions the chairs simply did not feel right to us, either in their proportions, construction or individual details.

We have compared this chair directly with the original drawings, and the lines, dimensions and angles match the drawings closely. It has the balance we look for in Jeanneret's work, where relatively substantial pieces of timber are combined in a way that still feels light and extremely well proportioned.

There are several documented variations of the V-Type Chair. All have stretchers connecting the V-shaped side supports, but these vary in their form and proportions. They are more commonly rectangular, while this chair has the less frequently encountered cylindrical stretchers. Of the different versions we have seen over the years, this variation has always appealed to us the most. The difference is subtle, but the proportions of the cylindrical stretchers work particularly well with the angles and lines of the V-shaped frame.

This example was purchased by us in Chandigarh and retains a very good surface developed through decades of institutional use. The teak has darkened considerably with age, with scratches, dents, marks, worn edges and variations in colour remaining throughout the frame. These are surfaces that we deliberately preserve rather than attempting to refinish.

Very faint traces of the original institutional markings also remain. These markings appear to have been largely removed when the chair was decommissioned, but enough survives to form another small part of its institutional history.

The seat and back are both woven cane, providing a light visual contrast to the substantial teak structure. The gently curved backrest follows the same straightforward approach as the rest of the chair, with the cane contained within a simple solid teak frame.

The chair has been fully structurally restored by our trusted conservator. All of the wooden elements are original to the chair. The teak has been lightly cleaned and waxed, retaining the accumulated institutional patina and signs of use.

The cane has been replaced and then sympathetically aged and toned to sit comfortably alongside the much older teak. We prefer this approach with Chandigarh furniture, allowing the cane to be structurally sound and usable without looking conspicuously new against a frame that has aged over many decades.

For us, this example ticks all the boxes. The lines, dimensions and angles match the original drawings, it has the cylindrical stretchers and proportions we have always preferred, all of the wooden elements are original, and the teak retains an excellent institutional patina. It is exactly the kind of V-Type Chair we have always looked for and, of the relatively few examples we have bought over the years, this is our last remaining example.

We have specialised in Pierre Jeanneret furniture for nearly nineteen years and have extensive experience in identifying, sourcing, restoring and selling his work. Given the number of later reproductions and incorrectly attributed pieces now on the market, we understand the importance of provenance, construction, materials and restoration when assessing Chandigarh furniture. We are always happy to discuss these aspects in detail and answer any questions regarding the attribution, provenance or restoration of our Chandigarh pieces.

Viewing is warmly welcomed at our West London showroom.

High-resolution photographs, detailed condition reports and video inspections are available upon request.

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Please contact us for further information or to arrange a private viewing