'Groupe' Sofa by Maison Martin Margiela for Cerruti Baleri, Italy - 2010

Description

Designed for the 2010 collection of the Italian manufacturer Cerruti Baleri, the 'Groupe' sofa is one of the most distinctive furniture projects by Maison Martin Margiela. Rooted in the Maison's principles of recuperation, transformation, and reinterpretation, the design evokes an assembly of chairs, armchairs, and sofas from different periods, unified beneath a tailored white linen cover. Carefully cut and stitched, the fabric reveals the underlying volumes while concealing their materials and colours, resulting in a restrained yet surreal composition. Beneath its conceptual exterior, the sofa features an internal plywood structure, CFC-free polyurethane foam, a heavyweight Dacron lining, separate down-filled cushions, and a steel support frame with adjustable feet.

Introduced at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in 2010 alongside the 'Emmanuelle' armchair, the 'Groupe' sofa marked one of the Maison's first furniture collections produced with an Italian manufacturer. Its significance was reinforced in 2011, when it was incorporated into the interiors of La Maison Champs-Élysées in Paris. Today, it is regarded as a defining work of contemporary collectible design, reflecting Margiela's ability to merge fashion, architecture, and functional sculpture.

GW4634