Cansado Bench

Thirteen-slat mahogany and iron metal bench / low table designed by Charlotte Perriand
Edition Steph Simon, circa 1959–1967
Made in France

Dimensions
W 190 x  D 70 x H 23.5 cm

A thirteen-slat bench in solid mahogany resting on a black-lacquered steel frame, designed by Charlotte Perriand and edited by Steph Simon between 1959 and 1967.

This example stands out for the remarkable quality of its patina. The mahogany has developed a deep patina over time, resulting in a warm tone with subtle shifts across the slats. The surface shows honest traces of age and use, giving the wood a softness and material presence that newer or refinished examples often lack. 

The black-lacquered metal frame shows a contrast between the industrial base and the richly patinated mahogany top, reflecting the restrained material vocabulary characteristic of Perriand’s work during this period.

Provenance
Cansado mining town, Mauritania

Literature
Jacques Barsac, Charlotte Perriand, Un art d'habiter, 1903–1959, Paris, 2005, p. 440 (similar models illustrated)
François Laffanour, Steph Simon, Retrospective 1956–1974, Paris, 2007

A well-preserved period example with an unusually rich and atmospheric surface.