Airborne, a French saga
Charles Bernard was born in 1904 in Louhans in Bresse.
In 1926, at the end of his military obligations, he returned to Paris, determined to embark on decorating after his meeting with Pol Pouchol, decorator and future ceramist whom he met during his military service.
Pol Pouchol hosted him and presented him to the mastery of Galeries Lafayette. He was immediately hired as an assistant where he learned the art of models, draftsman and colorist for the creation of objects and decoration orders for the store.
Airborne Book - The Modernists - Paris
Pierre Guariche
Thanks to his knowledge of manufacturing and his gifts for drawing, Charles Bernard mobilizes young designers, the first of whom is Pierre Guariche.
It was from 1952 that Airborne marketed the famous Guariche program, or Prefacto, the only industrial modular furniture of that time.
Charles Bernard resells the process to the Mai gallery, which will offer it for 10 years.
Only the solid beech models are made by Airborne, the Mai gallery will offer plywood elements.
Pierre Guariche - Guariche Program or Preface
Designers since 1951
In 1855 , Joseph B. Fenby, a British engineer designed a folding wooden chair, the Fenby Chair. He will deposit the model in 1881 in the United States. Produced from 1895 by the American company The Gold Medal Inc, it became the favorite chair of the military. Lightweight, folding with a removable skin, it is easy to transport.
Presented at the Universal Exhibition of Saint-Louis in 1904, its manufacturing rights are sold in several European countries. She then joined the ranks of the British and Italian armies during their maneuvers in Libya. Practical because very stable in the sand, it receives its nickname of Tripolina Chair.
Since then, many companies around the world have been manufacturing it in different versions: leather or fabric.
Model registered in 1881 by JB Fenby