One of a kind · Authenticated · Delivery Paris · France · Europe
LAPIERRE MARKET

Le Corbusier (1887-1965)

Le Corbusier remains one of the founding figures of modern architecture and one of the three authors of the LC collection, designed at his studio between 1928 and 1937 with Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand. This collection, edited by Cassina since 1965 within the Cassina I Maestri series, still structures the market for signed vintage furniture today. The LAPIERRE selection gathers authenticated Cassina LC pieces, with systematic mention of the estimated period and editor plate, in a market where unauthorised copies circulate massively.

Biographical landmarks

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, known as Le Corbusier, was born in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland. He trained at the École d'art appliqué of his hometown under Charles L'Eplattenier, then travelled across Europe between 1907 and 1917 to study classical and modern architecture (Italy, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Constantinople). He settled permanently in Paris in 1917 and adopted the pseudonym Le Corbusier in 1920. That same year, he founded the journal L'Esprit Nouveau with Amédée Ozenfant, where he published his architectural theses.

From 1922 onward, he opened his studio at rue de Sèvres in Paris with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret. The office became one of the most influential of modern architecture, signing the Villa La Roche (1923), the Villa Savoye (1929), the Cité de refuge (1933), the Cité radieuse in Marseille (1952), Notre-Dame du Haut at Ronchamp (1955), and the Couvent Sainte-Marie de la Tourette (1960). In parallel, Le Corbusier participated in the founding of CIAM (Congrès internationaux d'architecture moderne) in 1928, which structured European modern thought.

Furniture entered the studio's programme in 1927 with Charlotte Perriand's arrival. The Le Corbusier-Jeanneret-Perriand trio developed between 1928 and 1937 the series known today as LC: LC1 swivel chair, LC2 smaller grand confort, LC3 larger grand confort, LC4 chaise longue, LC6 plane-tube table, LC7 swivel armchair, LC8 and LC9 stools. These pieces were first presented at the 1929 Salon d'automne and produced in small series by Thonet until the war. Cassina relaunched official production in 1965 within Cassina I Maestri, with authorisation and collaboration from the Fondation Le Corbusier, which structures the current authentic market.

From 1951 onward, Le Corbusier worked on the Chandigarh masterplan in India, capital of Punjab. For this project, his cousin Pierre Jeanneret moved on site and developed a specific regional furniture (Office chairs, Pigeonhole armchairs, beds, bookcases) that today constitutes a distinct market, signed by Pierre Jeanneret alone. Le Corbusier died in 1965 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Signature pieces we source

LC2 smaller grand confort (1928, Cassina from 1965). Club armchair with exposed chromed tubular structure and five grained leather cushions. Dimensions about 76 x 70 x 67 cm. Central piece of the LC living-room set, often sought in pairs or in two-armchairs-and-sofa configurations. Cassina plate engraved on the back of the structure.

LC3 larger grand confort (1928, Cassina from 1965). More enveloping variant of the LC2. Dimensions about 99 x 73 x 70 cm. Rarer and more sought after in vintage form than the LC2. Available in black, brown, or caramel grained leather depending on period.

LC4 chaise longue (1928, Cassina from 1965). Chaise longue with H-shaped tubular structure on a black base, elongated surface rocks freely. Cover in grained leather or cowhide depending on period. Iconic piece presented at the 1929 Salon d'automne. High quotation in vintage form.

LC1 swivel chair (1928, Cassina from 1965). Armchair with chromed tubular structure and pivoting tensioned-leather armrests. Tilting leather backrest. Rarer than LC2/LC3, sought after by collectors.

LC6 plane-tube table (1928, Cassina from 1965). Table with glass top on a black-lacquered tubular steel structure, height-adjustable. Designed to serve as a dining table or desk top. Documented for the Villa Church.

LC7 swivel armchair (1929, Cassina from 1965). Pivoting armchair with upholstered shell and star base. Designed for the office and dining room. More limited production than LC2/LC3.

LC8 and LC9 stools (1928, Cassina from 1965). Low LC8 stool and LC9 bathroom seat, chromed tubular structure. Complementary pieces often sought in pairs or in sets of four.

Authentic vs reissue vs homage

The LC market is among the most exposed to copies in the world. Three distinct levels circulate. The official Cassina piece, whether 1965-1990 or more recent, which systematically carries the engraved Cassina metal plate with serial number. This plate is the principal authenticity marker, validated by the Fondation Le Corbusier. The pre-war Thonet piece (1929-1939), extremely rare, preserved primarily in museum collections, marked Thonet. A negligible market, almost entirely absent from commercial circulation. The unauthorised copy, sold online at low prices, without plate, with a lighter tubular structure and synthetic or corrected leather. This segment represents the majority of online volume sold under the LC2 or LC3 name, which makes expertise indispensable. LAPIERRE never lists copies; every LC piece listed carries its verified Cassina plate.

LAPIERRE process for Le Corbusier pieces

Three stages structure expertise. Physical verification of the engraved Cassina plate, with macro photograph, and cross-referencing of the serial number with Cassina databases when accessible. Inspection of the tubular structure (weight, chrome quality, weld geometry). Documentation of the original or reupholstered grained leather, with explicit mention if reupholstery has occurred. Pieces without a Cassina plate are never listed under the LC label.

Request a Le Corbusier piece

For a specific search (pair of LC2 in original black leather, vintage LC4 chaise longue, complete LC2-LC3-LC4 living-room set), write to us. LAPIERRE activates its Cassina network and partner Italian and French galleries, on a four-to-ten-week horizon depending on the rarity of the target piece.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do you authenticate an LC2 or LC3 Cassina armchair?
LC2 and LC3 armchairs edited by Cassina since 1965 carry an engraved metal plate on the chromed tubular structure, mentioning Cassina, the model number, and a unique serial number. This plate distinguishes official Cassina pieces from the copies massively present on the market. 1960s-1980s pieces have a slightly different plate from recent productions; LAPIERRE dates pieces by plate typology and cross-references with original invoices when available. The chromed steel tubular structure must be heavy and solid; the grained leather cushions must show the characteristic patina of use. Copies often present a lighter structure and thinner leather.
What is the difference between LC2 and LC3?
The LC2 and LC3 share the same language: exposed chromed tubular structure, five cushions (seat, back, two armrests, lumbar). The difference is dimensional. The LC2 is the smaller grand confort, tighter, more contemporary, dimensions about 76 x 70 x 67 cm. The LC3 is the larger grand confort, more enveloping, more club-like, dimensions about 99 x 73 x 70 cm. Both are edited by Cassina since 1965 within Cassina I Maestri. Vintage market quotations clearly separate them, the LC3 being rarer and more sought after in original form.
Is the LC collection by Le Corbusier alone?
No, and this is essential to understand the market. The LC collection (LC1 swivel chair, LC2 and LC3 grand confort, LC4 chaise longue, LC6 plane-tube table, LC7 swivel armchair) is attributed to the Le Corbusier-Pierre Jeanneret-Charlotte Perriand trio, designed at the Le Corbusier studio between 1928 and 1937. This shared signature is documented in the Fondation Le Corbusier archives and in Cassina catalogues. The pieces are edited under the LC label since 1965 without internal authorship distinction; legally and commercially, the trio is jointly credited.
What is the difference between a vintage LC piece and a recent reissue?
Cassina has edited the LC collection since 1965 without interruption. 1965-1990 pieces use Italian grained leather (Pelle Frau or equivalents) and original chromed steel tubular structures. More recent reissues use the same techniques with finish evolutions (certified leathers, contemporary foams). Quotations separate the periods less sharply than for other signed pieces, since Cassina production has remained homogeneous in quality. LAPIERRE nevertheless always indicates the estimated decade through patina and plate typology.
Is there a market of LC2 copies?
Yes, and this is one of the markets where copy risk is highest. The LC2 and LC3 are among the most copied armchairs in the world, sold online at very low prices without any Cassina authenticity. Copies present a lighter and thinner tubular structure, corrected or synthetic leather, total absence of a Cassina plate. LAPIERRE never lists copies; every LC2, LC3, LC4 listed carries its verified Cassina plate and provenance documentation. Informed buyers always check the plate before purchase.
What is the LC4 chaise longue and why is it iconic?
The LC4 chaise longue (1928), also called the rocking chaise longue, is one of the most recognisable pieces in the LC collection. H-shaped tubular structure on a black base, elongated surface covered in leather or cowhide. The mechanism rocks freely on the base, allowing the angle to be adjusted without mechanical setting. Designed by the Le Corbusier-Jeanneret-Perriand trio for the Villa Church in Ville-d'Avray, then presented at the 1929 Salon d'automne, the piece is today edited by Cassina. Vintage pieces in original grained leather are scarce and reach high quotations.
Did Le Corbusier design pieces beyond the LC collection?
Le Corbusier was first and foremost an architect: the Villa Savoye, the Cité radieuse in Marseille, Notre-Dame du Haut at Ronchamp, and Chandigarh in India structure his main work. Furniture remained secondary and concentrated on the LC collection produced at the studio between 1928 and 1937. From 1951 onward, the Chandigarh commissions gave rise to a regional furniture, primarily signed by Pierre Jeanneret alone, which today forms a distinct market (Office chairs, Pigeonhole armchairs, Chandigarh beds). The LC collection therefore remains the only furniture corpus where Le Corbusier appears directly credited.