Pierre Jeanneret Committee Armchairs, Model PJ-SI-30-A, Chandigarh, c.1953-54

Upholstered committee armchairs by Pierre Jeanneret, model PJ-SI-30-A, from the Chandigarh furniture program, circa 1953–1954. The generous upright backs and padded seats are enclosed by strong teak side structures, with broad cushioned armrests above compass-form legs. Jeanneret developed furniture alongside the architecture of Chandigarh, the new city created in post-independence India. Seating was an essential part of its offices, educational establishments and residential interiors. His designs brought modernist composition into direct contact with local woodworking: substantial timber members, economical joints and repeated forms gave ordinary furnishings a distinct architectural presence. The resulting furniture was made to be used, and its character emerges from the way a relatively small number of structural elements organize the body, the supporting frame and the spaces between them. The side members spread diagonally toward the floor and support the horizontal arm structure at their upper junction. The rectangular upholstered back rises above the seat and preserves a substantial, formal profile. Timber remains exposed around the lower body and beneath the arm pads, making the relationship between support and upholstery visible. The contemporary brown covering follows the seat, back and arms, creating a cohesive cushioned body within the angular frame. The 26-inch arm height and relatively tall back give the design a composed scale suited to seated discussion and administrative activity. Warm grain and variations in the teak surface add depth to the broad structural members without distracting from their clear geometry. The vintage teak retains variations in grain, color and surface wear, with softened edges and individual traces of use visible in the photographs. These details give the woodwork its material character and preserve the sense of a furnishing made for daily life in institutional or residential interiors. The timber has been refinished. The present upholstery is a later treatment of the vintage structure. Dimensions: approximately 24 inches wide, 25 inches deep, 35.5 inches high. Seat height: 19 inches. Arm height: 26 inches. Provenance: private collection, Chandigarh, India, as recorded by Studio Balestra. Accompanied by a Studio Balestra Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: 24"W x 25"D x 35.5"H, SH 19", AH 26" Product Type: Dining Chairs