Rare Pierre Jeanneret Furniture From Chandigarh

Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier in India

The Chandigarh project was actually originally started by the architects Maciej Nowicki and  Albert Mayer, who bowed out of the project after his architect-partner Nowicki died in a plane crash (1950).

The British modernist architect couple Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew were subsequently tapped by Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru as replacements to design this new capital of Panjab. 

This was a huge undertaking and, concerned about their ability to take on such a large project, the couple were able to somehow convince famed architect and fellow modernist Le Corbusier to take the lead on this ambitious endeavor. It was Le Corbusier who reunited with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and brought him in to serve as his “man on the ground.” They had worked together previously, along with Charlotte Perriand, on the fabulous LC Furniture Collection (check out the full collection HERE).

The Le Corbusier Chandigarh plan was officially launched in 1951 and  Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry left the project after 3 years, due to other obligations.  Pierre Jeanneret set up residence in Chandigarh and took on the role of Chief Architect and Town Planning Adviser until he left in 1965.  That’s almost 14 years – well beyond the time he had originally planned on staying.

It was within these 14 years that Pierre Jeanneret, occasionally with others, designed much of the furniture that was used in the administrative buildings, residences, courts, and theaters. Jeanneret’s Kangaroo Chair and the ubiquitous Capitol Complex Office Chair (quite often known now as a Jeanneret dining chair) which were standard pieces used in the residences and offices in Chandigarh, have had a rebirth as decorator faves in contemporary high-end projects.

Little did anyone know in the 1950’s how coveted these pieces were to become decades later.

Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh Chairs

There are, however, many other pieces of furniture that were used in the fabled city of Chandigarh.  I have hunted down the rarer chairs and assembled them together here. Enjoy! 

How Much Do These Rare Jeanneret Chairs Cost?

A lot. At this point these pieces are extremely hard to come by and I would say that they are basically museum pieces. Only the most dedicated Jeanneret fans and well heeled are able or willing to pay these prices. For example, I found a Jeanneret Folding Chair HERE for $21,000. The Swing Chair prototype HERE is a hefty $41,000. And if you want to cough up the really big bucks, you can purchase the Jeanneret Bamboo Chair for a whopping $50,000 (check it out HERE). If I owned it, NOBODY (myself included) would ever sit in it. Facts.

But Wait. There’s More…

Well. You’ve made it this far, but there is more. Loads more. In addition to these amazing pieces, Jeanneret produced desks, tables, stools (click HERE to check them out), daybeds, and benches (click HERE to check them out) just to name a few. I love this stuff. Such an ambitious project and rich legacy!