Six Coccinelle chairs, René-Jean Caillette – 1950s

Six fiberglass and black metal chairs, “Coccinelle” model, designed by René-Jean Caillette for Steiner, late 1950s.

• Signs of normal wear, a hairline crack on one yellow seat (see photos).
• H 73 CM x W 42 CM x D 42 CM.
• Seat height 43 CM.

The Coccinelle chair by René-Jean Caillette for Steiner

Designed in 1957 by René-Jean Caillette for the French publisher Steiner, the Coccinelle chair illustrates the designer’s research into new materials and mass-produced furniture. Its molded fiberglass shell rests on a slender metal base, combining an enveloping seat with a light, airy structure.

The Coccinelle chair, new forms of the 1950s.

The generous curves of the shell contrast with the thinness of the base, giving the whole a particularly expressive silhouette. The Coccinelle chair embodies a modernism of delicate, feminine, and elegant forms: an aesthetic pursuit imbued with softness and refinement. This use of fiberglass allowed Caillette to break free from the traditional constraints of wood and explore new forms, characteristic of 1950s modernist furniture.

An original creation of 1950s French design

Introduced at a time when synthetic materials were opening new perspectives for furniture designers, the Coccinelle bears witness to René-Jean Caillette’s interest in modern manufacturing techniques. Despite the attention it received from the specialized press, its production remained relatively limited.

This creation shortly preceded the famous Diamond chair, also published by Steiner, whose molded plywood shell continued the designer’s research into simplicity of form and economy of material.

A key figure in the revival of post-war French furniture, Caillette notably participated in Groupe 4 alongside Joseph-André Motte, Alain Richard, and Geneviève Dangles. His work accompanied the emergence of functional furniture, designed for the new interiors of the Trente Glorieuses.

To learn more about his career, discover our article dedicated to René-Jean Caillette and French mass-produced furniture, as well as our selection of furniture by René-Jean Caillette.