This public bench was designed by Pierre Jeanneret for the High Court buildings in Chandigarh, circa 1954–1955, as part of the furnishing programme for the new capital of the Punjab region in India, conceived with his cousin Le Corbusier.

Conceived for institutional use, the bench combines a solid wooden base with a gently curved seat and back, designed to provide comfort while maintaining a clear, functional profile. The splayed legs and exposed structure reflect Jeanneret’s emphasis on stability, economy of means, and legibility of construction.

The piece has been reupholstered in mohair, while the wooden structure and all other elements remain in original condition.Produced for public interiors rather than private settings, benches of this type were subject to heavy use, and surviving examples are increasingly rare. This piece remains a strong example of Jeanneret’s work in Chandigarh, where modernist principles were adapted to climate, function, and everyday civic life.

About the designer

Pierre Jeanneret (1896–1967) was a Swiss architect and designer whose minimalist approach helped shape some of the twentieth century’s most influential modern furniture, combining refined proportions with industrial materials and honest construction. Many of his most celebrated designs were originally created for the public buildings of Chandigarh, India, during his time as Chief Architect, reflecting his belief that furniture should form a natural extension of the architecture it served.

Trained in Geneva, he worked alongside his cousin Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, developing a design language in which buildings, interiors and daily life were conceived as a unified whole.

The Chandigarh collection and iconic Scissors Chair demonstrate Jeanneret's ability to distill architecture into furniture of remarkable clarity and restraint. Today, his work continues to be admired for its craftsmanship and enduring sense of purpose, remaining a lasting expression of post-war modernism.