Space Age Lounge Chair by Raphaël Raffel, France 1960s

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A rare 1960s Space Age lounge chair by French designer Raphaël Raffel. This Modernist chair features a molded smoked acrylic … Read more A rare 1960s Space Age lounge chair by French designer Raphaël Raffel. This Modernist chair features a molded smoked acrylic shell that gracefully cradles the body. Its rich, caramel hued original leather upholstery provides a plush sit. The chair's sculptural form and transparent elements make it a standout example of French Modernism. France, 1960s.

Raphaël Raffel was a highly influential French mid-century modern designer and decorator. Born in 1912 in Paris, Raffel studied design at the École des Beaux-Arts and began his interior decorating business in 1934, with Josephine Baker among his first clients. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he was esteemed as one of France’s “ensembliers-décorateurs,” creating comprehensive interior designs.

By the 1950s, he gained recognition for his work on public spaces, including embassies and the Hôtel de Ville de Paris, and collaborated with André Arbus on the ocean liner Bretagne. Raffel's 1960s and 1970s designs were marked by Space Age influences, seen in his furniture for Maison Honoré and Herman Miller.

Condition: Good overall vintage condition. The leather displays cracking and wear throughout that aligns with age and use. Scratches and light staining to the acrylic frame, as shown in photos. See less