Never design anything that cannot be made.
Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé 1901–1984
Jean Prouvé was born in Nancy, France, in 1901. Prouvé‘s father Victor founded the École de Nancy, an Art Nouveau school that focused on hand-made objects. Apprenticing with an ironsmith as a teenager, he learned the value of simple forms and metalworking techniques. Prouvé founded his studio, Ateliers Jean Prouvé in 1923 and created restrained metal objects that rejected excess decoration. Within his workshop, he favored industrial materials like sheet steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Engineers employed these materials in the emerging aircraft industry, and these materials inspired Prouvé to design a pre-fabricated houses with Le Corbusier in 1923 that was reminiscent of aircraft design. Working with Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, Prouvé created breathtaking furniture that forged the process of prefabrication. Prouvé tirelessly focused on finding creative and useful solutions to design problems throughout his career, crafting everything from aluminum vacation homes to university bookcases, living by his words that one should “never design anything that cannot be made.”
Auction Results Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé
rare and important Professor desk for the Université de Lille
estimate: $250,000–350,000
result: $293,000
Jean Prouvé
refectory table from the Holiday Camp at Saint-Brevin
estimate: $150,000–200,000
result: $252,000
Jean Prouvé
No. 4 chairs, set of ten
estimate: $80,000–100,000
result: $144,000
Jean Prouvé
No. 4 chairs, set of eight
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $132,000
Jean Prouvé
Flavigny table
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $131,000
Jean Prouvé
rare table
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $131,000
Jean Prouvé
Marcoule banquette from the Centre de Readaptation Fonctionnelle, Nancy
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $110,500
Jean Prouvé
pair of lounge chairs
estimate: $70,000–90,000
result: $104,500
Jean Prouvé
Tropique dining table, model 503
estimate: $70,000–90,000
result: $96,000
Jean Prouvé
Demountable chairs, set of 6
estimate: $40,000–60,000
result: $82,600
Jean Prouvé
'Semi-Metal' chairs no. 305, set of six
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $81,250
Jean Prouvé
Comblanchien dining table
estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $78,000
Jean Prouvé
'Semi-Metal' chairs no. 305, set of eight
estimate: $60,000–80,000
result: $75,000
Jean Prouvé
bed no. 102 from Lycée Fabert, Metz
estimate: $40,000–60,000
result: $75,000
Jean Prouvé
Standard chairs, set of twelve
estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $66,000
Jean Prouvé
Important cabinet, no. 150
estimate: $60,000–80,000
result: $65,000
Jean Prouvé
Standard chairs no. 305, set of six
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $64,900
Jean Prouvé
coffee table
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $64,800
Jean Prouvé
Important cabinet, no. 150
estimate: $60,000–80,000
result: $62,500
Jean Prouvé
coffee table
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $61,200
Jean Prouvé
Standard chairs no. 305, set of six
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $60,000
Jean Prouvé
porthole panel
estimate: $40,000–60,000
result: $60,000
Jean Prouvé
armoire, model AP11
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $60,000
Jean Prouvé
Standard desk, no. 21
estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $57,500