Laffanour | Galerie Downtown and Puiforcat Bring Design Legends to TEFAF New York 2026

At this year’s TEFAF New York, Laffanour | Galerie Downtown transforms its booth into a masterclass in collectible design, bringing together some of the most iconic names of the 20th century alongside contemporary artistic visionaries. In collaboration with the legendary French silversmith house Puiforcat, the Paris gallery presents a rare and deeply sophisticated dialogue between furniture, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts – one where timeless modernism meets sculptural experimentation.

The presentation feels less like a fair booth and more like an immersive design manifesto. Monumental Charlotte Perriand pieces converse effortlessly with the radical precision of Jean Prouvé, while works by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Serge Mouille, Isamu Noguchi and Vassilakis Takis create a visual language defined by purity, tension and extraordinary craftsmanship.

Among the highlights is an exceptional Grand Confort armchair dating from around 1928 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand – a piece that remains one of the most influential symbols of modernist design. Produced in extremely limited numbers, the chair embodies a revolutionary approach to structure and comfort, where architecture itself becomes furniture.

Equally captivating is Charlotte Perriand’s monumental Bloc wall-mounted sideboard from 1960, a unique commissioned piece stretching nearly six meters long. With its folded steel construction, sliding aluminum doors and refined ash veneer, the work possesses an almost architectural presence, blurring the line between furniture and spatial intervention.

When Modernist Icons Meet Contemporary Artistry

What makes this presentation particularly compelling is the subtle tension between historical masterpieces and contemporary creation. Puiforcat – revered for over two centuries of exceptional French silversmithing – introduces new works designed by Turner Prize-winning artist Rachel Whiteread alongside pieces by American minimalist Donald Judd.

The result is striking. Silver transforms from decorative object into sculptural statement, carrying the same purity of line and radical restraint that defined the great modernist designers surrounding it. The conversation between Judd’s geometric rigor, Whiteread’s poetic minimalism and the architectural clarity of Perriand or Prouvé feels seamless, despite spanning generations and disciplines.

Elsewhere, Serge Mouille’s iconic lighting punctuates the space with dramatic silhouettes, while Takis’ magnetic sculptures introduce movement and energy into the otherwise restrained environment. Noguchi’s creations add softness and fluidity, balancing the presentation with organic sensuality.

The entire curation reflects what Laffanour | Galerie Downtown has championed for decades: design not as decoration, but as a cultural force capable of shaping the way we live, move and experience space.

The Art of Living, Reimagined

Founded in Paris in the 1980s, Laffanour | Galerie Downtown has become one of the world’s leading authorities on post-war design, preserving the legacy of figures such as Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret while continuously reinforcing their relevance within contemporary culture.

At TEFAF New York 2026, the gallery proves once again why these creations remain endlessly fascinating. Their power lies not only in rarity or provenance, but in the extraordinary modernity they still project decades later. The lines remain radical. The materials still feel innovative. The vision remains entirely contemporary.

Together with Puiforcat, this presentation becomes more than an exhibition of collectible objects – it is a meditation on craftsmanship, permanence and the enduring beauty of intelligent design.

For more information:
www.galeriedowntown.com
www.puiforcat.com