An exceptional early Library Chair, designed by Pierre Jeanneret and Eulie Chowdhury for Chandigarh and dating from 1952–56.

Constructed from solid teak with a handwoven cane seat, this is one of the most heavily patinated examples of the Library Chair that we have handled. The teak has developed an extraordinarily deep, almost black surface through decades of institutional use, with areas of wear revealing the warmer original colour of the timber beneath. This degree of naturally developed patina is not something we commonly find, even amongst original Chandigarh furniture.

The depth and consistency of the surface strongly suggest that the chair spent much of its working life in a heavily used environment. The backrest, legs and seat rails carry the accumulated marks, rubbing and variations in colour associated with prolonged use. Rather than detracting from the chair, these layers have created an exceptional surface that could only have developed over many years.

The Library Chair is distinguished by its deceptively simple X-frame construction. The front and rear legs cross beneath the seat, with the rear legs continuing upwards to support the gently curved wooden backrest. Although visually very light, the structure is extremely well resolved, and the construction of this example corresponds closely with the original drawings for the model.

The chair is also slightly lower in overall height than a number of other Library Chairs we have owned and handled over the years. Variations between Chandigarh furniture are not unusual given its workshop production, but the difference is interesting in the context of Eulie Chowdhury's involvement in the design. Chowdhury is known to have reconsidered and adapted the proportions of furniture developed in Chandigarh to accommodate smaller Indian physiques rather than simply following the larger proportions derived from Le Corbusier's Modulor system.

The model is generally identified by the reference PJ/EC-SI-51-A and documented examples are dated to 1952–56, with further production in 1960. It was produced for institutional use in Chandigarh, including the Library of Punjab University and the High Court.

The history of the Library Chair's authorship is also significant. Although the model was for many years predominantly associated with Pierre Jeanneret, Eulie Chowdhury's contribution has received considerably greater recognition in recent years. A 1961 issue of MARG explicitly names Chowdhury as the designer of the Library Chair, providing important contemporary evidence of her involvement in Chandigarh's furniture programme.

This example retains traces of its original institutional markings to the seat frame. These markings have subsequently been written over, something we have encountered frequently on Chandigarh furniture when pieces were decommissioned and their earlier inventory or institutional identification was no longer required. We have deliberately left these markings untouched.

For us, the extraordinary surface is what really distinguishes this chair. We have handled a considerable number of Chandigarh pieces over nearly nineteen years, and it is unusual to find a Library Chair with patina of this depth. The surface has not been artificially darkened or made uniform; repeated handling and wear have instead exposed glimpses of the original teak beneath the much darker areas. It provides a physical record of the chair's long working life and is something that cannot convincingly be recreated.

As with all of our Chandigarh furniture, the chair has been carefully restored and recaned in London to museum standards. The aim of the restoration was to stabilise and preserve the chair rather than remove the evidence of its age. The new cane has been sympathetically toned to sit comfortably alongside the heavily aged teak, while the original frame, surface and institutional markings have been retained.

If you are looking for a pristine or newly manufactured appearance, this is unlikely to be the chair for you. If, however, you are looking for an original Chandigarh example with an exceptional depth of patina, genuine institutional wear and construction corresponding closely with the original drawings, this is precisely the type of piece we look for ourselves.

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 and are always happy to discuss these aspects in detail.

Viewing is warmly welcomed at our West London showroom.

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

We offer local, national and international shipping.

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