French All-Wood Chair by Vauconsant for Ateliers Jean Prouvé, 1940s

For years, this rare French chair was presented in galleries as a prototype for Jean Prouvé's now-iconic Standard Chair. As more has become known about its history, the piece has since been identified as a Vauconsant production for Ateliers Jean Prouvé, dating to the 1940s.

That connection is a particularly interesting part of the chair's story. Based near Nancy in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, Vauconsant produced wooden components and finished furniture for Ateliers Jean Prouvé during a period when Prouvé was exploring how his designs could be made entirely in wood.

You can see that influence throughout this chair. The rear legs extend all the way up the back, supporting a broad curved panel, while the thinner front legs and narrow stretchers give the frame a lighter profile. The seat curves gently over the front edge, and the exposed slotted screws across the seat and back remain part of the design.

We especially love that the story of this chair has continued to evolve. Its earlier identification as a Prouvé prototype and later attribution to Vauconsant speak to just how closely the two were working during this period, making it a rare piece with an unusually interesting history.

Jean Prouvé (1901–1984) began his career as a metalworker and went on to become one of the most influential French designers of the 20th century. His furniture was closely tied to the way it was made, often leaving its construction visible rather than disguising it.

During the 1940s, Prouvé worked closely with Établissements Vauconsant, a furniture manufacturer based near Nancy. Vauconsant produced wooden components and finished furniture for his atelier, and the relationship became especially important as Prouvé began developing all-wood versions of his designs, including the Tout Bois chair.

These pieces are a fascinating departure from the metal furniture for which Prouvé became best known. Working entirely in wood gave familiar ideas a different character, and examples connected to this period remain an important part of his design history.