4.11.2011

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

3 comments:

  1. wow was this book something you had forgotten on your "the shelves" or did you find it somewhere? I would love to track it down.

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  2. I bought it at the show but had not really looked at it since. Email the gallery, I bet they still have copies. I haven't looked for it online...

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  3. The chair is by Serge Ketoff

    http://atalmusic.blogspot.com/2010/10/serge-ketoff-ne-en-1918-rare-fauteuil.html

    ReplyDelete