PIERRE

The surprising optical effect of Pierre is the result of the alternation of two vividly contrasting geometric patterns. Striking motifs enliven the rigorous silhouette of this piece that certainly never goes unnoticed.

Designed by George Sowden in 1981, Pierre is a table of great impact in lacquered wood, covered with decorative laminate on a metal frame. The structure is composed of four wooden legs with a square section, lacquered with red, yellow and blue stripes. The wooden top has a zigzag motif in black and white. 

Looking at the remarkable body of original work created by George J. Sowden in 1981, we also discover a version of Pierre with the blocks decorating the legs in black and white rather than in colors, triggering an evocative motif of elegance and refinement. From the outset, the designer saw into the future, imagining Pierre in these two very different but also harmonious versions.

“When I arrived in Italy and met Sottsass in 1970, I could sense a sort of freedom from modernist ideology, which Memphis then proceeded to destroy completely. With Memphis I could do what I wanted, and when you can do what you want everything depends on your sensibility, your ability and creativity,” Sowden says.

George J. Sowden is a designer and product developer with extensive experience in various fields of industrial design, from the development of mass-market electronic products to limited-edition artisanal products, including ceramics and glass, textiles, and carpets. He studied architecture at Gloucestershire College of Art in the 1960s. He moved to Milan in 1970, where he began working with Ettore Sottsass and Olivetti. In 1981, he co-founded Memphis. That same year, he opened his own design studio, through which he developed an industrial design consultancy practice while continuing to develop his research.

W 150, D 150, H 72 cm; 115 Kg