1950s Geneviève Dangles & Christian Defrance Armchair

A mid century armchair attributed to Geneviève Dangles and Christian Defrance. Iron base and new wool bouclé upholstery. Sourced in Northern Italy.

Geneviève Dangles and Christian Defrance, both born in 1929, were a prominent French design duo known for their innovative contributions to postwar modern furniture. Dangles graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD), where she studied under René Gabriel, and worked with Marcel Gascoin. Defrance trained in wood sculpture at the École Boulle before also attending ENSAD. They founded their design firm in 1953 and collaborated extensively with Burov, creating furniture that combined metal, fiberglass, and ergonomic designs.

Their work is characterized by clean lines, a mix of hard and fluid forms, and a focus on comfort. Notable designs include the Saturn Armchair 44, Chair 18, and Sofa 58. They also designed children's furniture for ABC and contributed significantly to modern French design aesthetics.