Biography

Pierre Chapo, France (1927-1987)

Pierre Chapo was born in Paris on July 23, 1927 into a family of artisans (dyers-launderers) who settled in 1937 in Vierzon in the Cher. Pierre Chapo first tried painting and then met a marine carpenter in 1947. In his workshop, he discovered woodworking and decided to enroll at the Ecole nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, architecture section. His studies are interspersed with trips to Europe and the United States.

Back in France, Pierre Chapo continued working with wood, which he articulated around contemporary design and the know-how of traditional craftsmanship. After a few years, he opened a gallery in Paris where he exhibited his creations as well as those of other creators such as Isamu Noguchi. In 1960, during the Arts and Crafts Techniques exhibition, his work was recognized by the city of Paris, from which he received the Gold Medal (other awards followed this first prize).

He opened his furniture manufacturing workshop in Clamart and participated in several manufacturing and development projects with different architect-project managers including Charlotte Perriand who would have a great influence on his work.

In 1967, he moved to Gordes and created his company and factory there which sold and manufactured the bold and robust solid wood furniture that he designed, while maintaining the Clamart workshop and the Paris boutique.

Suffering from Charcot’s disease, Pierre Chapo died in 1987 in Gordes, barely 60 years old.

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