'Rosace' Low Table, designed circa 1970

For the renovation of the Elysée Palace in the late 1960s, Pierre Paulin designed the Rosace table basse for the library in the private apartments of the President, Georges Pompidou. The low table featured a soft glow emanating from its base, taking the form of undulating petals, a complementary characteristic for the peaceful quiet atmosphere of the room. As part of the commission, facilitated by L’Atelier de Recherche et Creation (ARC), a branch of the Mobilier National, a limited number of editions were created and sold to the public. The goal of the ARC was to promote and disseminate the work of Contemporary French designers and artists. The Elysée palace renovation was the inaugural project of the ARC and marked not only a change in Paulin’s aesthetics but also a change in French society. The deep curves and softness of the Rosace table basse represent a step away from the rigid functionality of early modernism and toward a more organic conformation. Designs from Pierre Paulin are featured in the collections of respected museums worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.