A particularly good original pair of Pierre Jeanneret Conference Armchairs, dating from circa 1953–54 and originally made for the administrative buildings of Chandigarh, India.

The two chairs were purchased together as an original pair and are constructed from solid Indian rosewood, or sisso, with cane seats and backs. The chairs have the distinctive V-frame construction associated with this Jeanneret design, with long horizontal armrests, angled supports and gently curved cane backs.

What we particularly like about this pair is how well the two chairs have aged together. 

Both retain their original polished surfaces and have developed good, strong institutional patina through decades of use. There is considerable depth and variation in the sisso, but the overall colour and degree of wear are remarkably consistent across the pair.

The patination is especially strong towards the front of the arms, exactly where the chairs would have been repeatedly handled during their working lives. The original polish remains visible elsewhere beneath the accumulated wear, creating a layered surface that could not be reproduced through refinishing. There are knocks, marks and areas of wear throughout, all of which sit naturally within the original surfaces and reflect decades of institutional use.

Finding two examples with this degree of matching patina is one of the reasons we particularly like the pair. They have clearly aged alongside one another, yet each retains the small differences in colour and wear that we would expect from furniture that has been used for around seventy years.

The chairs have been carefully conserved by our trusted conservator and made structurally solid while retaining as much of their original timber, surface and patina as possible. The sisso has been cleaned and waxed rather than stripped or refinished, preserving the surviving original polish together with the accumulated wear and variation in colour.

The original cane had reached the end of its usable life and has been replaced to the seats and backs. The new cane has been carefully toned to sit naturally alongside the aged sisso rather than having the very pale appearance of newly woven cane.

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.

We offer local, national and international shipping.

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