1960-1998 Designer furniture and objects
The creation of a coffee table for his own use was the starting point for the production of designer furniture by Émile Souply. On advice from others, he entered this work in the Signe d’Or competition, whose judges presented him with the furniture and industrial design award in 1960.
This also marked the beginning of a collaboration with the firm E.M.Y. in Kortenberg, which manufactured his first pieces of furniture, characterised by a rational and postmodernist aesthetic.
A meticulous craftsman, Souply designed functional furniture to improve its users’ quality of life. The forms he employed were simple and geometric.
The materials reflected the trends of the late fifties and early sixties: the legs were made of steel or chromed metal, while coverings were made of white or coloured leather or laminated wood.
His output included chairs, tables, armchairs and storage cabinets. It was intended for individuals, companies and churches.
In 1962, Émile Souply co-founded the Groupe Design with J.-P. Emonds-Alt, A. De Vinck, L. Kroll and L. Van Malderen.
In the eighties, he began designing smaller objects such as cutlery and dishes, using corian in particular.