Garden Bench

Guimard designed a small group of graceful cast iron benches that were manufactured by the Saint-Dizier foundry. Although he installed them in only two recorded instances (for the grounds of the Chalet Blanc de Sceux and in an unidentified exposition documented in a period photograph) the benches were the most popular Guimard items sold by the foundry. They were in continuous production until at least 1935. The design of this example is simple (almost minimal) and elegant. A curvaceous seat composed of wooden slats merges with the back and central struts to create a flowing composition. Plastic ornamentation blends organically with the structural elements. Guimard's designs for generic items in no way compromised his sensuous use of iron.