Joseph-Andre Motte (19252013)

Joseph-André Motte studied at the École des Arts Appliqués in Paris, graduating in 1948. He began his career as a furniture designer at the Bon Marché, one of the oldest Parisian department stores, collaborating with Marcel Gascoin’s workshop. In 1954, he founded his own agency and co-founded the Atelier de Recherche Plastique with Michel Mortier and Pierre Guariche. He was soon one of the most influential post-War designers, devoted to combining modern forms and traditional techniques using traditional and modern materials. Some of his most famous chairs are the Tripod Chair (1949), the Catherine Chair, (1952), the Sabre Chair (1954), the 740 Chair (1957), and the 770 Chair (1958). Motte was also given prestigious interior design commissions, and participated in numerous exhibitions including the Salon des artistes décorateurs, the Salon des arts ménagers and the Universal Exhibition Brussels Expo ’58.