Joseph-André Motte was born in 1925 in the Hautes-Alpes but it was in Paris at the School of Applied Arts in Industry that he studied under the direction of Louis Sognot and René Gabriel, two of the great masters of French modernity. He graduated top of his class in…

Joseph-André Motte was born in 1925 in the Hautes-Alpes but it was in Paris at the School of Applied Arts in Industry that he studied under the direction of Louis Sognot and René Gabriel, two of the great masters of French modernity.
He graduated top of his class in 1948 and in 1952, he joined the studio of the third great modern French master, Marcel Gascoin. It was there that he met Pierre Guariche and Michel Mortier with whom he developed a friendship and a deep connection. professional. Together they created the Atelier de Recherche Plastique (ARP) in 1954 to present French industrialists with practical, comfortable, modern furniture at a reasonable price.

Joseph-André Motte then developed a very prestigious career that made him one of the most important leaders of contemporary creation during the second half of the twentieth century. He radically reexamined traditional materials such as rattan, rethought the layout of post-war French apartments and created a range of revolutionary seats for Steiner. He first imagined a folding armchair to be delivered disassembled in cardboard, a seat made entirely of metal tube covered with molded foam and a removable cover or an exceptional range of furniture entirely in stainless steel.

If this great agency head is undoubtedly the one who created the most models for French design, his career was also crowned by many prestigious orders. Joseph-André Motte designed most of the major French airports, was commissioned to redesign more than a hundred metro stations (the Motte style remains with its seats and lighting fixtures that still equip many stations today) and was often called upon to collaborate with the Mobilier National for the furnishing of national palaces.

He designed two series of lighting fixtures for the Ateliers Pierre Disderot, one in white glass in a very Japanese spirit, the other in folded plexiglass sheets stretched between brass rods. They reveal both the great concern for the quality of light dear to these functionalist creators but also the particular care that Joseph-André Motte put throughout his life into detail, materials and the search for perfect proportion.

This floor lamp, made of opaque double-layer glass, was created in 1957. Its minimalist elegance is accompanied by a luxurious finish in patinated brass and white marble.

Designer: Joseph-André Motte
Publisher: Ateliers Disderot
Dimensions: 30 x 165 x 30 cm

Joseph-André Motte was born in 1925 in the Hautes-Alpes, but he was in Paris at the École des arts appliqués à l'industrie that he studied under Louis Sognot and René Gabriel, two of the great masters of French modernity.
He graduated at the top of his class in 1948 and in 1952 he joined the workshop of the third great French modern master, Marcel Gascoin. It was there that he met Pierre Guariche and Michel Mortier with whom he developed a friendship and a deep professional connivance. Together they created the Atelier de Recherche Plastique (ARP) in 1954 to present French industrialists with practical, comfortable, modern and reasonably priced furniture.

Joseph-André Motte went on to develop a very prestigious career that made him one of the most important leaders in contemporary creation during the second half of the 20th century. He radically rethought traditional materials such as rattan, rethought the layout of post-war French apartments, and created a range of revolutionary chairs for Steiner. He first imagined a folding armchair to be delivered disassembled in cardboard, a seat all in metal tube covered with molded foam and a removable cover, or an exceptional range of furniture all in stainless steel.

If this great head of agency is undoubtedly the one who has created the most models for French design, his career has also been crowned by many prestigious commissions. Indeed, Joseph-André Motte fitted out most of the major French airports, was commissioned to refurbish more than a hundred metro stations (the Motte style with its seating and lighting still equips many stations today) and is often called upon to collaborate with the Mobilier national for the furnishing of national palaces.

He designs two series of lighting fixtures for the Ateliers Pierre Disderot, one in white glass in a very Japanese spirit, the other in plexiglass sheets folded and stretched between brass rods. They reveal both the great concern for the quality of light dear to these functionalist creators but also the particular care that Joseph-André Motte has put all his life in the detail, the materials and the search for the perfect proportion.

This floor lamp, in opaque double layer glass, was created in 1957. Its minimalist elegance is accompanied by a luxurious finish in patinated brass and white marble.

Designer: Joseph-André Motte
Publisher: Ateliers Disderot
Dimensions: 30 x 165 x 30 cm