Focuson Jean Prouvé’s Visiteur armchairs

JEAN PROUVÉ
Pair of Visiteur Métropole FV 13 armchairs, ca. 1951
Pair of Visiteur no. 350 armchairs, ca. 1952

Pair of Visiteur Métropole FV 13 armchairs, ca. 1951

Derived from the Métropole armchair designed in 1941, these two models reflect Jean Prouvé’s continuous efforts to improve the comfort, strength and manufacturing quality of his seating designs. The Visiteur Métropole FV 13 armchair represents a significant stage in the evolution of the model. Introduced in 1951, it incorporates several technical improvements, including a modification of the profile of the wooden side members and a reinforced frame structure.

Produced in only around sixty examples, the FV 13 Visiteur armchair is exceptionally rare today. Preserved as a pair and in a remarkable condition, this original red version allows a full appreciation of this decisive stage in the model’s development.

Pair of Visiteur no. 350 armchairs, ca. 1952

Marketed from 1952 onwards under the designation no. 350, the succeeding model pursued this process of refinement. Improvements were made to its comfort through a softer seat profile, signaled by the more rounded line of the side members, and thicker cushioning, while its solidity was further enhanced. The seat and backrest could be produced in plywood, sheet steel or sheet aluminum, illustrating Prouvé’s enduring interest in materials and industrial manufacturing processes.

The Visiteur no. 350 armchair, meanwhile, represents the culmination of Jean Prouvé’s research during the early 1950s. This other pair, also in excellent condition in its original black version, stands among the most emblematic examples of the postwar furniture developed by Jean Prouvé.