LE CORBUSIER, 1952
Object
The LC14 Tabouret Cabanon stool, designed by Le Corbusier in 1952, is a piece of furniture that blends functionality, simplicity, and aesthetic refinement. This stool was created specifically for the Cabanon, a small cabin that Le Corbusier built for himself on the French Riviera.
The Cabanon represented an experiment in compact living, where every element had to be multifunctional and efficient. In this context, the furniture, including stools, was designed as boxes to optimize space and practicality.
Despite its spartan nature, Le Corbusier’s Tabouret Cabanon reveals a unique refinement: the dovetail joints not only ensure structural stability but also highlight the connections between the solid wood planes, adding a distinctive visual element. This detail gives the stool a handcrafted and sophisticated appearance, setting it apart from simple utilitarianism.
The choice of material for the LC14 Tabouret Cabanon is equally significant. Made from solid chestnut wood, this stool combines robustness with natural beauty.
The oblong hole on each side of the stool is not merely an aesthetic detail but also makes the stool particularly easy to handle, facilitating movement within the confined space of the Cabanon. This feature further underscores Le Corbusier’s philosophy regarding furniture functionality: each piece had to be practical and easily transportable.
L14 Tabouret Cabanon in Museum Collections
For a long time now, Le Corbusier’s furniture has become icons of modernist design, continuing to influence generations of designers. This influence extends not only to objects like the LC4 Chaise Longue, the LC2 Fauteuil Grand Confort armchair, and the numerous tables designed by Le Corbusier in collaboration with Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret. Increasingly revered are the items Le Corbusier created for his Cabanon, such as this stool and the LC19 coat rack.
The inclusion of the Tabouret in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York underscores the significance and lasting influence of Le Corbusier’s design. Today, the LC14 Tabouret Cabanon is also considered a classic of 20th-century design, exemplifying Le Corbusier’s approach to furniture that is practical, aesthetically pleasing, and spatially efficient.
LE CORBUSIER
Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was one of the great artists and architects of the 20th century, a revolutionary force in the design of objects and interiors. Together with Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, he designed a series of furniture pieces that prioritize human needs and remain timeless icons nearly a century after their creation. Since the 1960s, these pieces have been produced by Cassina as the LC series within the “I Maestri” collection.
CASSINA
Founded in 1927 in Brianza by brothers Cesare and Umberto, Cassina is a benchmark for Italian design, thanks to famous collaborations with Gio Ponti, Vico Magistretti, Achille Castiglioni, and today’s leading contemporary designers. With the “I Maestri” line, Cassina also produces iconic pieces of early modernist design, such as those by Mackintosh, Rietveld, and Le Corbusier.
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Details
Cassina
Dimensions of the three versions of LC14 Tabouret:
Structure: Solid chestnut wood slats, glued together. Oblong hole on each side.
Finish: Matte transparent varnish with an open-pore finish.
