Large coffee table made of hammered and gilded iron, by Robert Thibier
Paris, France, circa 1960
Pair of two-tiered end tables, by Robert Thibier
Paris, France, circa 1960
Small table made of hammered and gilded iron, in the style of Robert Thibier
Paris, France, circa 1960
Pair of coffee tables-ends of sofa in hammered and gilded iron, by Robert Thibier
France, circa 1960
Biography
Born in Paris into a wealthy family, Robert Thibier (1926–2001) studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and became an interior designer in 1951. With offices located at some of Paris’s most prestigious addresses (Place de la Madeleine and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré), he catered to a clientele of celebrities and socialites, including the Rothschild family, as well as athletes and industrialists.
An interior architect rather than a furniture designer, Thibier produced a few pieces of furniture for his clients with the intention of creating “modern antiques” that would harmonize with other European antiques and convey a strong sense of opulence. To achieve this, he created geometric wrought-iron furniture covered with a very subtle layer of gold leaf. Some of his pieces are signed and numbered.
In the 1970s, Robert Thibier also collaborated with Maison Ramsay and created some of their most famous designs.
Throughout his career, Robert Thibier worked on numerous prestigious projects, notably for hotels, restaurants, and boutiques. He also designed furniture and home decor accessories for renowned brands such as Hermès, Cartier, and Chanel. Robert Thibier was known for his elegant and contemporary style, which combined modern materials with classic forms. He received several awards for his work, including the City of Paris Design Prize in 1975 and the Grand Prix National de la Création Industrielle in 1985. Today, Robert Thibier’s creations are part of the permanent collections of museums such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Montreal.