White Lacquered Iron Chair

Iron chair with armrests and a white lacquered finish, designed by René Malaval and produced by Bloc Métal around 1950.

In the context of postwar French reconstruction, welder and inventor René Malaval came up with an ingenious industrial recycling solution by reusing perforated metal plates left over from military shell and ammunition production. Using this leftover material and a sturdy steel tube frame, he made affordable street and patio furniture, strong and highly durable. Its distinctive perforated seat and back not only made the piece look lighter, but also allowed it to dry quickly and made it perfectly suited to outdoor use, making it a benchmark of mid-century industrial design and the circular economy.