Swiveling office chair, 1944
The principle of the swivel seat—for chairs and office chairs—was adopted in 1944, to complement the office models created during the War. The tube of the swivel leg was stabilized by an X-shaped pressed steel base. The bent steel tube frame formed the support for the seat, the armrests and the backrest. Initially made in only a few examples, this first model was later marketed as FP 11, after modifications aimed at improving the rigidity of the frame: crossed tubes under the seat and a continuous bar behind the backrest. The padding was covered with leather or fabric. In 1951 the Direction no. 353 swiveling office chair replaced the FP 11,1 with a few details changed to improve comfort and finish. The bent steel of the feet was protected with stainless steel or diamond-point aluminum sheet, and was either encircled by an aluminum tube or fitted with casters. The padding was covered with fabric, leather or leatherette, as for the Direction no. 352 office chair, of which it was presented as the swivel variant. Often associated with the Présidence desk, the Direction no. 353 swiveling chair was successfully marketed—then made— by Steph Simon until the late 1950s.
1. Early in 1950 a special swivel-frame system for office chairs was developed for the furnishing of the Société Générale bank in Douai (architect H. Chomette). It is not impossible that this new type of frame was originally intended to replace that of the FP 11 swiveling and the CD 11 Dactylo chairs. This system involved a new principle that would be implemented only in the series for the bank: a largediameter load-bearing tube to which were welded two bent steel back legs and two bent tubing front legs. A hole drilled in this crosspiece allowed for fitting of a height-adjustable pivot. The tubular frame making up the seat and the back was the same as on the FP 11 swiveling chair series.