Art Nouveau Salon Suite by Gauthier-Poinsignon

Chair dimensions:
Height: 37 in
Width: 26.5 in
Depth: 16.25 in
Seat Height: 18 in

After first getting training in Louis Majorelle’s studio from 1893, Camille Gauthier opens his own furniture factory in 1901 with the financial help of upholsterer Paul Poinsignon. Inspired by the naturalist decoration of the models of Louis Majorelle, the Gauthier-Poinsignon factory produces serial furniture sold through catalogue and at the factory. Thanks to industrial production, the cost of fabrication for this type of furniture is attractive, Gauthier Poinsignon furniture is very successful.
By offering the possibility of acquiring Art Nouveau style furniture to wider households, Camille Gauthier adopts and practices the principal of “art for all” promoted by the Ecole de Nancy.

CHRONOLOGY
1870 – Born in the commune of Norroy-les-Pont-à-Mousson, son of a farmer.
1888 – At the age of 18, he enters the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy. He attends classes taught by the institution’s then director, Jules Larcher, part of the Antique et Nature division of the course. The academic training he receives is largely based on copying masterpieces of Classical and Renaissance sculpture.
1890 – Graduates from the École des Beaux-Arts . In the same year, Camille won the Georges Jacquot award, a distinction given to young designers who seemed promising to the Industry.
1891 – Continues his studies at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
1893 – Returns to Nancy, where he is hired by Louis Majorelle as a designer and works mainly on marquetry. Shortly afterwards, Majorelle’s firm participated in the Exposition d’Art Décoratif Lorrain , 1894, an occasion that marked a change of direction: in parallel with the production of historicist furniture, Maison Majorelle also decided to produce furniture in the nouveau style .
1901 – Having left Maison Majorelle, he established his own studio at 8 rue d’Auxonne .
1904 – Joins forces with Auguste Poinsignon. The firm, now under the name Gauthier-Poinsignon, would have machines imported from the United States and a huge showcase, lit entirely by electricity. In the same year, Gauthier was called upon to illustrate the cover of printed postcards sold by Etablissements Bergeret , in addition to designing the furniture catalogs distributed by the firm itself.
1908 – The injection of capital from the new partnership and the subsequent investment in machinery by the partners makes it possible to produce quality furniture at reduced prices. The firm prospers; in 1908, with two offices, two studios and its own exhibition gallery, it also employed forty-three people, responsible for technical and administrative services.
1909 – The firm participates in the International Exhibition of East France, in Nancy. Gauthier-Poinsignon actively participated in artistic events linked to the École de Nancy, having exhibited various furniture in past exhibitions.
1924 – On the occasion of the death of Auguste Poinsignon, Gauthier sells the company to Charles Delfour. Delfour continues to produce furniture and distribute catalogs — important sales support — while maintaining the Gauthier-Poinsignon name.
1963 – Camille Gauthier dies, having devoted the last years of her life to painting. The object of interest in his paintings — prehistory — would have been encouraged by contact with Father Henri Breuil, a famous scholar of the period.