In 1968, the Musée des Arts décoratifs provided a summary of creation in this field with the exhibition “Assises du siège contemporain” (Seats of the Contemporary Chair). This was an occasion to exhibit the work of international designers and to highlight the especially successful experiments that had been carried out with this type of furniture which, during the 1950s and 1960s had evolved radically: Monobloc chairs in plastic, inflatable seats, the eruption of colour and soft forms.
This library of chairs, following on from this exhibition, allows us to read, from the second half of the 20th century up to today, a history of the lines, shapes and the range of offerings where the most fantastical references sit alongside a stated minimalism, but also to measure the extent of technological progress, from the arched tubular metal to 3D printing.