LAFFANOUR - Galerie Downtown / Paris presents from September 11 until October 11 2014 Masterpieces: seven major pieces by the Mouvement moderne generation represented by Le Corbusier: Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret and Serge Mouille.

With their personalities and collaborative projects, these creators have left their mark on design and architecture history. LAFFANOUR - Galerie Downtown / Paris pays tribute to them with this amazing showcase gathering their emblematic works at 18 rue de Seine:

- The “Presidency” desk by Jean Prouvé, one of the most emblematic pieces from this architect and the Mayor of Nancy.

- The monumentale conference table for the Houillères du Nord, a unique example of Prouvé design.

- A bookcase on top of a sideboard, the result of Perriand’s Japanese influence.

- The very rare wall lamp “Signal” by Serge Mouille.

- The table on six feet created for the Coquatrix’s appartment by Perriand in 1950.

- The oval desk, an experimental piece by Jeanneret for Chandigarh.

- The swivel armchair, result of Perriand and Jeanneret’s collaboration.

Each of these Masterpieces embodies the spirit of research and creativity of these design adventurers who were tasked with reconstructing, redesigning and reinventing post-war France.

By the end of the 1970s, many examples of Prouvé’s work - originally commissioned by the French state - had been scattered to the four winds to be replaced by more contemporary designs.
François LAFFANOUR was one of the first to identify, collect and reveal Jean Prouvé’s work.
François Laffanour foresaw the historical significance of Jean Prouvé’s work, which epitomised a spirit of modernity, hope, simplicity and strength.
He did the same for Charlotte Perriand to whom he dedicated an unrivalled collection of reference books with help from the Perriand family.
An internationally known expert for Perriand’s work, François Laffanour is the owner of the archives of the Gallery Steph Simon, Prouvé, Perriand, Le Corbusier and Jeanneret’s historical gallery.

LAFFANOUR - Galerie Downtown / Paris, Perriand, Prouvé & Jeanneret's gallery

LAFFANOUR - Galerie Downtown / Paris exhibits architects’ furniture designs, which are now recognized as real collectors’ items.
This furniture is the product of a debate on the nature of modernity: the attempt to find a balance between the technical and that which is driven by questions of lifestyle - the end goal being to promote something that will be of use to society as a whole.
The designs in question stand out for their intellectual rigor, commitment to social change and enthusiasm - we might even say radicalism - possessed as they were of sufficient vision and courage to strike out on new paths.

The place of these items of furniture in the history of 20th century art must be seen through the spectrum of this period’s many social upheavals.
An uncompromising approach to aesthetics and expertise is very much the hallmark of LAFFANOUR - Galerie Downtown / Paris. 

At art fairs and at the rue de Seine, the spectacular displays and the painstaking restoration works are the basis of its international reputation.