Joseph-André Motte (1925 - 2013)

Joseph-André Motte is a French designer and interior architect. He participated to the French design development but he is still unknown by general public.

Motte participated to the layout of public places in France: the Orly airport and the ferry terminal based in Le Havre for example. He also worked for the layout of subway stations in Paris. He is the designer of beautiful pieces such as the 770 armchair (1958), the 771 chair (1958) and the Bahut sideboard (1958).


Biography

Joseph-André Motte was born in France in 1925. He quickly earned distinction: he graduated at the top of his class of the School of Applied Arts in Paris. Then, he worked for the Art Workshop of the French and prestigious shop: Le Bon Marché. In 1954, he met Pierre Guariche and Michel Mortier (two famous French designers). Together, they founded a group named ARP (Atelier de Recherche Plastique). Then, he worked with the ‘Groupe 4’ founded by René-Jean Caillette, Geneviève Dangles and Alain Richard. In the 1950s, Motte started to collaborate with the famous manufacturer: Steiner. From 1966 to 1968, he chaired the ‘Société des Artistes Décorateurs’. He also worked as a teacher for 30 years at the School of Decoratives Arts in Paris.