Ateliers Philippe Coudray

A DREAM IS BORN

This project has been an opportunity for Philippe to give his tribute to his first love, upholstery. It was like an urge to create a piece that shows the collaboration, the synergy of passionate artisans, he gathered. And that’s how the story began…

Once upon a time, three masters artisans dreamt about a collaboration to unite their skills.

In the same time, there was an auction where the incredible Emperess Eugenie’s chair was sold lost among others but Philippe Coudray rescued it from the oblivion.

The idea was born of the flying swinging confident in the continuity with Napoleon III style. It is a piece where past and present meet above the waves.

More than just a seat, it becomes an invitation to contemplation, conversation, and a journey to distant horizons.

That chair was a gift to the emperess for her boudoir in the Aigle, the boat which inaugurated the Suez Canal in 1863.

As a serendipity, there was the exhibition « Louvre Couture » held in Paris about the link between creations and their historical inspirations in art ; among which, the mi-century armor and Balenciaga 3D armor dress was the most striking.

Over a brainstorming came the idea of what would order the Emperess Eugenie today to master artisans for her Aigle boudoir ?

As we pondered what the empress might have desired to gaze out at the sea, we envisioned a “confidant” armchair, suspended like a swing, designed for intimacy and daydreaming.

This one-of-a-kind piece came to life through a collaboration with the embroidery house Safrane, which designed a marine-themed world specifically for this project.
The delicate motifs, inspired by waves and maritime imagery, enrich the armchair and give it a unique identity, blending heritage and modernity.

Acknowledgements

Our heartfelt thanks to our embroidery partner ATELIER SAFRANE CORTAMBERT Without whom this project would never have seen the light of day

And, of course, to all the ATELIERS PHILIPPE COUDRAY‘s team who brought this seat to life, just as wonderfully as we had imagined it

Trim cables: PASSEMENTERIES DE L’ILE DE FRANCE

Fabric painting: Cécile GAUNEAU & Anna LUCCHINI, ornamental painters

3D designer: Gaultier BIGOT Studio

Fabric: NOBILIS editor

Sycamore and beech structure: Luis LOUROT & Laurent ROCA

“A special thanks to Eric CHARLES-DONATIEN artist and feather designer with whom we dreamed up this event”