The Early Years of a Woodworking Artisan

Turenne Chevallereau (1912-1977), French designer and draftsman, was born in 1912 into a family of woodworking artisans. From a young age, he trained in the manual crafts that would later shape his career. A student at the École des Arts Appliqués — now École Duperré — he studied under René Gabriel and graduated in 1929. Bright and promising, he benefited from Gabriel’s support, which introduced him to the design circles.

Collaboration with René Gabriel and the Post-War Era

In 1937, Chevallereau participated in the International Exhibition alongside René Gabriel, with whom he worked closely until the outbreak of World War II, which interrupted their partnership. After the war, they resumed their collaboration on iconic projects such as the "Meuble de France" (1944-1946) and the exhibition of priority furniture at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in 1945.

From Longchamp to Mobilier National: A Lasting Legacy

In 1948, Jean Cassegrain entrusted him with the creation of the iconic Longchamp logo, depicting a horse jumping an obstacle, marking his entry into the world of graphic design. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, his works were regularly exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, further cementing his place in the French design landscape.

An Avant-Garde Vision of Furniture Design

In 1968, Chevallereau partnered with the Mobilier National to design a range of modular furniture. Reflecting his innovative spirit, this collection included a lounge chair, a rocking chair, a coffee table, an ottoman, and a bookshelf, all created at the Atelier Recherche et Création of the Mobilier National. Only the coffee table is part of the national collections, as the seating prototypes were not preserved.