The questions that come up.

Every piece is examined physically before it goes on sale. We check the signature or editor marking, the materials, the original hardware and the traces of manufacture. For the most widely copied editions (USM Haller, Knoll, Cassina, Ligne Roset, Vitra), we cross-check against the manufacturer's archives and the known references of the period catalogue.

Yes. Every sale comes with a document of authenticity signed by LAPIERRE MARKET, stating the designer or editor, the estimated year, the origin and the identifying features. This document is contractually binding.

Our authenticity guarantee is for life. If a recognised expert seriously challenges the authenticity of a piece, we buy it back at the original sale price, whatever the date of purchase.

Our catalogue is 100% vintage pieces, that is, produced at the time, not reissued. For USM Haller we work with vintage and contemporary elements, always original. Recent reissues are always stated on the listing.

USM Haller has been in continuous production since 1965, with no interruption and no editorial break. There is therefore no "reissue" in the classic sense of the word: a module made in 1972 and a module made this year come from the same tooling, in the same Münsingen factory, to the same tolerances. We date pieces by the markings, the tone of the chrome plating, the finesse of the welds and the hardware. The full detail is documented in our USM authentication guide, reachable from the product listing of every module.

After your purchase, we handle delivery, and installation when it is planned, within a week at most. That is what we aim for in Paris and across France. For Europe, add the carrier's transit time, usually five to ten working days; outside the European Union, the lead time is given on quotation. The detail by zone is on the Delivery page.

Yes, throughout the European Union, with specialist furniture carriers. Outside the EU we quote case by case. Customs duties and local VAT remain payable by the recipient on deliveries outside the EU.

Hand delivery in Paris and the Île-de-France region: we transport, we install the piece in the room it is meant for, we take the packaging away. This option is recommended for heavy, fragile or complex pieces: USM configurations, large bookcases, modular sofas.

For a standard delivery, no. For personalised delivery or a specialist carrier, we confirm a time slot by email 48 hours before the visit. Check the access (lift, door width, floor) before ordering; if in doubt, send us the dimensions of your stairwell and your doors and we will confirm feasibility beforehand.

It is our in-house last-mile service, covering central Paris and the inner suburbs. The cargo bike is equipped to carry up to 200 kg of furniture: chairs, coffee tables, USM elements, lamps, small dismantled sofas. In dense areas it is faster than a carrier, with no diesel and no pick-up point. We give a precise slot (a two-hour window), we carry up to your door, we take the packaging away. Price: central Paris free, inner suburbs (adjoining 92, 93, 94) a flat 50 EUR.

No. Every piece is unique, photographed from every side and described one by one, marks of use included: the sale is final, and we do not exchange. The only exception is the one the law imposes: for an online order placed by a consumer, the fourteen-day legal withdrawal period (article L221-18), return at your expense and the piece sent back in the condition it left in. It does not apply to a purchase made in person at the showroom, to a trade purchase, or to a USM configuration built to your measurements. The details are on the Sales & guarantees page.

Any defect not stated on the product listing, any hidden defect appearing after delivery, any damage noted on receipt (a reservation on the delivery note plus an email within 48 hours, with photographs), any dispatch error. Depending on the case: repair, price reduction or refund.

Yes, for life. If the authenticity of a piece is seriously challenged by a recognised expert, we buy it back at the original sale price, whatever the date of purchase.

Always write a precise reservation on the carrier's delivery note at the moment of receipt, in the presence of the driver, then send us the photographs by email within 48 hours. A vague wording such as "subject to unpacking" is not enough: the damage observed has to be described. We then deal with the carrier's insurer; you do not have to handle the file. Depending on the extent of the damage, we offer a price reduction, a repair at our expense, an exchange or a full refund.

You pay for the piece in full before delivery, in one of two ways: online on the site, through the secure checkout when you order, or by bank transfer, whatever the amount. In that case we send you our bank details once the order is confirmed.

Online payment goes through Shopify Payments, certified PCI-DSS level 1. No bank details are held on our servers. Transfers are made to a French business account.

Payment is made in full before delivery. If you need to spread a large purchase, write to us before ordering and we will look at what is possible together.

Displayed prices are in euros, all taxes included: the amount shown on the listing is the amount you pay. The tax regime applying to your order appears on the invoice issued with the shipment. For a delivery outside the European Union, customs duties and local taxes are payable by the recipient at customs clearance, on top of the price paid on the site. Payments are collected in euros; we do not run automatic multi-currency conversion.

Yes. We take original USM units, yours or ours from stock, and reconfigure them to your use and your dimensions. A new module, extra shelves, a switch to castors, a change of colour: we work from authentic parts, never copies.

Yes. Every USM project leads to a written quotation, after a discussion of the use, the room it is meant for and the technical constraints. The average time between approval of the quotation and delivery is 3 to 6 weeks, depending on module availability.

No. The USM units we sell and reconfigure are made exclusively of authentic elements, vintage or contemporary, originating from USM Modular Furniture. Copies and replicas are not accepted in our projects, for reasons of quality as much as respect for the manufacturer.

Allow 2 to 4 weeks on average between approval of the quotation and delivery, depending on the complexity of the configuration and the availability of the modules to be sourced. A three-column bookcase held complete in stock leaves within 10 to 12 days. A large wall configuration with a change of colour and epoxy relacquering takes more workshop time: the paint alone takes a week between application and full curing. We give a precise schedule at the quotation stage, then keep you informed at every step through to delivery.

Yes, in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Filming, press shoots, weddings, brand events. Short hire (24 to 72 hours) or medium hire (up to a month). Pieces are delivered and collected by us, handling included.

Rates are calculated case by case, according to the pieces selected, the duration, the address and the level of handling required. We send a written quotation within 48 hours of receiving your brief.

A deposit of a set amount, priced on the quotation and restated in the rental contract before the pieces are handed over. The amount is based on the replacement value of the pieces on the second-hand market, not on a new price. It is released on return, once the pieces have been checked. In case of damage, we retain only the cost of restoration actually incurred, against receipts. A public liability insurance certificate covering the rental is also required for professional events.

The Togo sofa by Michel Ducaroy comes up on most fashion and lifestyle briefs, followed by Le Corbusier's LC2 in patinated leather. Yellow and green USM Haller bookcases work well on beauty and tech shoots. Then come the Cesca and Wassily chairs, Artemide Tizio lamps, Castiglioni Arco lamps and Saarinen round tables. On the Scandinavian side, pairs of Danish teak armchairs and sideboards are in demand. For signature pieces, give us a few weeks' notice.

We source in France and across Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany mainly, and occasionally Switzerland and Scandinavia. Three main channels: private estates, which we handle directly or through a notary; specialist design auctions; and a network of partner dealers who offer us, exclusively, the pieces matching our specification. We always travel to check the condition of a piece before buying. No piece enters the catalogue without having been seen, measured and photographed by us.

We put new pieces online every week, as a continuous flow, with no seasonal calendar. The catalogue is not set to quarterly collections: a piece goes in when it is ready, that is, authenticated, reconditioned if needed, photographed and documented. To follow arrivals, sign up to the newsletter (sent weekly on Friday) or follow our Instagram, where new pieces often appear ahead of the site.

Yes, for private clients as well as architects. You describe the piece you are looking for (model, dimensions, finish, budget) and we look for it within our network. The average time is two to six weeks, depending on rarity. No commitment until the piece is approved: you see the photographs, you decide. To start a search, use the form on the Trade page for a professional specification, or the Sell / contact page for a private request.

No. Our trade is authenticated vintage only, that is, pieces produced at the time, by the historic editor, identifiable by their markings, their materials and their manufacture. We do not sell recent reissues or contemporary production, with the exception of the USM Haller system (in continuous production since 1965, see the dedicated question). If you are looking for a new reissue, go directly to the editor: Cassina, Knoll, Vitra and Ligne Roset all have a network of approved retailers.

No, not systematically. Our approach depends on the initial condition and on the nature of the piece. An even, coherent patina, a dark brown leather that has lived, a slightly soft lacquer, an oiled teak: most often that is an asset, and we preserve it. Structural deterioration, a localised stain, a lifted veneer, collapsed foam: we intervene. Every product listing states precisely what has been kept, what has been redone, and the general condition on a documented scale. The aim is never to neutralise the past of the piece.

A specialist partner workshop, using the same process as the original paint. Each module is first stripped, primed if needed, then the epoxy colour is applied as a powder with an electrostatic gun and oven-cured, which sets the finish. We stick to the original RAL colours of the USM range: Pure White, Graphite Black, Light Grey, Pure Orange, Gentian Blue, Golden Yellow, Ruby Red and Pure Green, among others. Side by side with a factory colour, the difference is hard to see.

External. We work with a partner upholsterer specialising in designer pieces, based in the Paris region, with whom we have worked for several years. He knows the specific demands of each model: the leather cover of a Togo and its sub-elements, the webbing and seams of an LC2 or an LC3, the modules of a Camaleonda or a Soriana, the frame and stuffing of Scandinavian seating. For leather we work with recognised tanneries. For textiles we offer the original editor references when they are still in the catalogue.

Allow two to four weeks, depending on the scale of the work. A simple leather cleaning and feeding job leaves within a few days. A full USM relacquering takes one to two weeks across dismantling, stripping, painting, curing, cooling and reassembly. A complete re-covering (a three-seat Togo leather cover, for example) takes three to four weeks, depending on material availability. We give a precise lead time at the quotation stage and keep you informed if anything holds the workshop up.

Yes. Part of the catalogue is deliberately sold in its original state, either because the patina is fine and coherent with the piece, or because you would rather entrust the restoration to your own upholsterer or paint workshop. The condition is then described in detail on the listing, with high-definition photographs and a clear statement of the points to be addressed. This option is generally more accessible in price and lets architects and collectors keep control of the final result.

We buy back the reference pieces of 20th-century and early 21st-century design: USM Haller (any module, any colour), Cassina (LC2, LC3, Soriana, Maralunga, Camaleonda, Cab), Knoll (Wassily, Cesca, Barcelona, Tulip, Saarinen), Vitra (Eames, Panton), Ligne Roset (Togo, Pumpkin, Kashima), B&B Italia (Le Bambole, UP), Artemide (Tizio, Tolomeo), Flos (Arco, Taccia, 2097). On the Scandinavian side we buy high-end Danish and Swedish mid-century: Wegner, Juhl, Mogensen, Møller, pairs of teak armchairs, sideboards. We do not take back furniture from mass-market editors with no resale value.

You send us a simple file by email: general and detail photographs (joints, markings, any defects), precise dimensions, and the context of the piece (provenance, estimated date of purchase, invoices if you have them). We come back within 72 working hours with a figure and the arrangement we propose: outright purchase, sale or return, or exchange against another piece from the catalogue. If the piece interests us for outright purchase, we travel to confirm the condition, settle the price and arrange collection. No commitment on your part before you approve.

The useful minimum: general and detail photographs (at least one view per side, plus the markings, labels, welds and underside), dimensions precise to the centimetre, and any evidence of provenance you hold. Original invoices, delivery notes, editor certificates, guarantee notes and correspondence with the retailer raise our valuation appreciably. On reference pieces, these documents make the difference between a cautious estimate and an expert price.

Yes, on reference models whose structure holds: Togo, LC2, LC3, Soriana, Camaleonda, Cab, USM Haller, Wassily, Cesca, Barcelona, Eames Lounge. On those pieces we can handle, in-house or through our partner upholsterer, leather or textile re-covering, relacquering, dismantling and reassembly, and the re-beading of a frame. The purchase price of course reflects the cost of bringing the piece back up. Models with no signature, or structurally compromised (split frame, beyond repair), are not worth taking back. We say so plainly rather than dragging the exchange out.

Yes, and it is a significant part of our activity. We support interior architecture practices and decorators on residential and commercial projects, from the Haussmann apartment to the head office. Sourcing is carried out to a specification (model, finish, budget, lead time), with a private catalogue returned within seven to fourteen days, depending on complexity. To confirm materials and colours with your client, we send colour charts and detail photographs, and we visit sites in the Île-de-France region. A trade discount applies on volume, on a scale given when the account is opened.

The same as for all our customers: payment in full before delivery, by bank transfer or online on the site. We invoice your company, with your intra-EU VAT number if needed. For architecture practices invoicing their end client, we can also invoice the client directly, with a margin rebate on presentation of a mandate.

Yes. Every piece delivered to a trade client comes with a named certificate of authenticity, stating the designer, the editor, the estimated year of production, the origin, the identifying features and any reconditioning work carried out. Project owners may require this document on schemes that carry furniture on the balance sheet, insurers for theft and damage cover, and design offices for HQE and heritage files. On request we provide a consolidated file bringing together all the certificates for one project.

Yes, on request. We publish a trade PDF catalogue updated monthly, organised by typology (seating, storage, lighting, tables) and by editor, with high-definition photographs, dimensions, prices, condition and availability. The document is available to approved trade accounts through the Trade / catalogue page. We also prepare bespoke selections: you send us a project brief, we return a PDF moodboard with the pieces we consider relevant, to be approved online or by telephone.

For leather covers, follow our guide at /en/leather-restoration: regular dusting, feeding with Saphir milk every six months, Médaille d'Or wax on dry areas, Sappo Saphir if the leather is smooth. For fabric covers, gentle weekly vacuuming, stains treated straight away with lukewarm water and real Marseille soap (not scented soap), air drying, never a hairdryer or a direct radiator. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which turns both leather and fabric. The Togo does not like ambient humidity above 70%.

For aniline leather (dyed through, matt, and taking a patina): gentle dusting, Saphir Médaille d'Or cleaning milk applied with a cotton cloth without rubbing, then Médaille d'Or wax to feed it. For smooth pigmented leather (LC2, Barcelona, office chairs): Sappo Saphir, which cleans and feeds in one step. Never solvents, never alcohol, never supermarket ammonia wipes: they strip the pigment and crack the leather within a few months. On a localised stain, act quickly and prefer lukewarm water to aggressive products.

Yes, very well, provided it is cared for twice a year. Aniline leather that is properly fed (Saphir every six months) stays supple and hard-wearing for decades: an original LC2 from the seventies is still ageing well today. Leather left in a dry room, exposed to sunlight and never fed, ends up crazing and splitting, and repair then becomes heavy work. Our full care guide can be read from the Leather restoration page: it sets out the steps by type, the products, and the mistakes to avoid.

No solid wood and no veneer in a bathroom or a very damp kitchen: the wood moves, the glues let go, the veneers blister. Scandinavian sideboards, rosewood and oiled teak furniture, and French-polished pieces are also to be avoided. USM Haller, by contrast, holds up very well in a bathroom: chromed steel frame, oven-baked epoxy lacquered steel panels, no absorption of moisture. The same goes for varnished metal, marble and stone furniture. For leather, prolonged ambient humidity is not ideal, but occasionally it recovers without damage.