Charles Zublena, Cabinetmaker and Designer

Charles Zublena (1910–1979), of Italian origin, began his training as a cabinetmaker at a very young age, which he supplemented by taking courses in drawing and the history of furniture. He emigrated to France in 1930 and opened his first workshop in Paris, where he drew, designed and produced his own creations, which he exhibited at the Musée Galliera around 1950. In the 1960s, he was invited by leading designers (Maxime Old and Joseph André Motte) to join the Société des Artistes Décorateurs (SAD) and its executive committee.

He exhibited his work at numerous international trade fairs in Paris, Brussels and Turin. It was inspired by a wooden deckchair – whose design had caught the eye of ministers André Malraux and Eugène Claudius-Petit – that he created the famous Eurolax 1 plastic chair, which went on to become a common sight on beaches throughout France and abroad.

In the late 1960s, he was invited by the École Boule and the École d’Arts appliqués to teach future cabinetmakers and designers. Alongside his work as a designer, he was awarded the title of ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ in 1976 and 1979, and was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit.

Contents

CHARLES ZUBLENA
Cabinetmaker and designer
Furniture
Sculptures & Architecture

Charles Zublena (1910-1979), di origini italiane, intraprende fin da giovanissimo la formazione di ebanista, che completa frequentando corsi di disegno e di storia dell’arredamento. Emigra in Francia nel 1930 e apre a Parigi il suo primo laboratorio, dove disegna, progetta e realizza le proprie creazioni, che esporrà intorno al 1950 al Musée Galliera. Negli anni Sessanta viene invitato da grandi designer (Maxime Old e Joseph André Motte) a entrare a far parte della Société des Artistes Décorateurs (SAD) e del suo comitato direttivo.

Presenta le sue realizzazioni in numerosi Saloni internazionali a Parigi, Bruxelles e Torino. È partendo da una sedia a sdraio in legno, notata per il suo design dai ministri André Malraux ed Eugène Claudius-Petit, che crea la famosa sedia in plastica Eurolax 1, che si diffonderà su numerose spiagge in Francia e all’estero.

Alla fine degli anni Sessanta, viene invitato dall’École Boule e dall’École d’Arts appliqués a tenere corsi per futuri ebanisti e designer. Parallelamente alla sua attività di designer, nel 1976 e nel 1979 vinse il titolo di “Meilleur ouvrier de France” e fu nominato Cavaliere dell'Ordine Nazionale al Merito.