A One-of-a-Kind Letter Opener, Once Owned by Jean Prouvé's Wife, Reissued

Vitra

Functionality as a product, understated beauty as an object.

Jean Prouvé (1901-1984) began his career as a blacksmith and is known for his wide-ranging output, from letter openers to door and window components, lighting, furniture, prefabricated housing, and large-scale auditoriums. He is considered one of the most versatile and innovative figures in architecture and industrial design of the 20th century. The Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra is now reissuing the letter opener "Coupe Papier."

Text by Satsuki Wakabayashi

With a major exhibition planned at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo starting July 16th, attention is currently focused on the legacy and functional beauty of the works created by "Jean Prouvé."

He possessed the facets of a designer, manufacturer, and entrepreneur, and during his lifetime, he operated a workshop and production facility. It is said that his own letter openers were often found there.

This reissue is based on a stainless steel prototype once owned by Prouvé's wife, Madeleine. It was released as "Coupe Papier" starting June 15th.

A One-of-a-Kind Letter Opener, Once Owned by Jean Prouvé's Wife, Reissued | Vitra

Like the original, it is made of stainless steel and features a simple form that fits comfortably in the hand. It is a masterpiece that embodies Prouvé's design philosophy: "The appearance of a design naturally emerges from the rationality of its structure and production."