Teak and cane linen chest by Pierre Jeanneret from the Chandigarh furniture program, circa 1955–1956. A low rectangular case is enclosed by woven cane panels and a solid hinged teak lid, combining practical storage with a particularly clear material contrast.
The furniture developed by Jeanneret for Chandigarh extended to the practical organization of the city’s institutions and residences. Storage was treated with the same architectural clarity as seating and tables: timber frames, repeated compartments and straightforward fittings made the function of each piece visible. Made in the context of post-independence India’s new city, these furnishings brought modernist ideas into a vocabulary of local woodworking and everyday materials. Their identity lies in the relationship between the enclosing case, its openings and the objects it was intended to hold.
The cane panels are held within broad timber rails at the front and sides. Their fine grid introduces lightness and ventilation to the enclosed body, while the lid forms a substantial horizontal plane above. Simple metal hinges and a front latch make the chest’s opening and closing mechanism directly visible.
Surviving painted lettering includes the prefix “PSD/CH,” followed by an individual inventory designation. The initials and Chandigarh abbreviation preserve a trace of institutional use on the timber rails. The inscription sits within an aged surface of warm brown wood, rubbed edges and tonal variation, giving the chest a particular history beyond the recognizable form of the design.
The vintage teak retains variations in grain, color and surface wear, with softened edges and individual traces of use visible in the photographs. These details give the woodwork its material character and preserve the sense of a furnishing made for daily life in institutional or residential interiors.
Dimensions: approximately 27.5 inches wide, 17.25 inches deep, 17 inches high.
Provenance: private collection, Chandigarh, India, as recorded by Studio Balestra.
Accompanied by a Studio Balestra Certificate of Authenticity.
