steph simon: the man behind prouvé and perriand

I was doing my usual rummaging
around the bookshelves

and I came up with this gem of an

exhibition catalog from

Paris, 2007 at the
Galerie Downtown,

"Steph Simon: Retropsective 1956-1974"

Sweet catalog, and a cool story.

(Exhibition was way cool too.)

I had always wondered who "Steph Simon"

was in auction catalogs 

and this little book 

brings him to life.

I'm not feeling wordy
(I rarely am)

so I won't go into his whole life story
other to say

he tried to stop a robbery,

got shot,
and used the insurance money 

to open a contemporary design store in Paris.

He gave Prouvé, Perriand, Mouille, 

Noguchi and Jouve 

their first shows in Paris ever.

To say his eye was ahead of it's time, 

would be an understatement....

Opening for Jean Prouvé

and Charlotte Perriand

Paris

1965

Architectural cross-section of the

Steph Simon Gallery

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

First exhibition

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

Selection of furniture and objects

1965

Time Machine please!

Steph Simon Gallery

Selection of furniture and objects

1965

Steph Simon Gallery

Selection of furniture and objects

1965

Steph Simon Gallery

First exhibition

1956

What is that chair to the back right?

Prouvé? 

Doesn't look like it....

Steph Simon Gallery

Jouve "Cylindre" exhibition

1950s

Steph Simon Gallery

Jouve "Cylindre" exhibition

1950s

Steph Simon Gallery

Noguchi "Akari" exhibition

1960

These hand-painted examples are extraordinary.

Steph Simon Gallery

Noguchi "Akari" exhibition

1960

Steph Simon Gallery

Assorted Press 1950s and 60s

Steph Simon Gallery

Gallery Worksheet for Jean Prouvé

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

Gallery Worksheet for Charlotte Perriand

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

Gallery Worksheet for Serge Mouille

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

Gallery Worksheet for Isamu Noguchi

1956

Steph Simon Gallery

145 Boulevard Saint-Germain

Paris 6

1956-1974