Élisabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti form a celebrated French design duo, instrumental in defining a unique and imaginative style within the world of contemporary design.

Their bold and eclectic approach is characterised by whimsical forms and innovative use of diverse materials, which has captivated collectors and design aficionados worldwide.

Since beginning their collaboration in the early 1980s, Garouste and Bonetti have crafted designs that blend playful daring with influences ranging from surrealist art to Baroque and primitive aesthetics. Rejecting minimalism and functionalism, they embraced a romantic decorative style full of theatricality and poetry.

Their partnership began with the decoration of the Privilège club at Paris’s legendary Le Palace, quickly gaining attention for their dramatic and eclectic creations. They went on to design interiors for clients including fashion icon Christian Lacroix, whose haute couture salons they transformed with strikingly unconventional furnishings.

Throughout their prolific career, Garouste and Bonetti produced memorable pieces such as the vibrant Koala sofa and the Barbare chair, combining organic shapes, bold colours, materials like wrought iron, bronze, terracotta, and sumptuous textiles. Their work became a hallmark of neo-Baroque design and new romanticism, breaking boundaries between art and functional design.

Their influence extends internationally with works held in prestigious museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. They received numerous accolades including Designers of the Year at the International Furniture Fair in 1991.

Garouste and Bonetti’s continued commitment to craftsmanship, their audacious creative spirit, and their whimsical yet sophisticated designs secure their place among the great visionary couples in modern design history.

Sofa Corbeille

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