(b Douarnenez, 4 Aug 1901; d Tréguier, 24 Dec 1983). French cabinetmaker and sculptor. The son of a carpenter, in 1929 he opened his own workshop in Tréguier. He joined the Unvaniez ar Seiz Breur (Brez.: Assembly of the Seven Brothers), which brought together artists and craftsmen dedicated to the revival of the applied arts in a spirit of Breton nationalism. The architect James Bouillé (1894–1945) introduced him to ancient Irish art, which became the basis of his decorative vocabulary. He became a friend of the sculptor Henri Laurens and met Le Corbusier in 1935. In 1937 he and Le Corbusier produced their first piece together, a chest (priv. col.) made of wood that had been treated with acid and in places discreetly heightened with orange. In the same year Savina received a bronze medal in the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in Paris for his involvement in the Brittany Pavilion. As a prisoner of war during World War II he began to sculpt, initially in a conventional idiom, and later illustrating Breton themes in a style influenced by Expressionism. He was liberated in 1943 and decided to create some volumes from drawings by Le Corbusier that he owned. The success of this venture led to a collaboration that lasted until 1965. In all 48 works were made at Tréguier and finished in Paris, each bearing the double signature LC–JS. Savina also attempted to perfect a standard set of furniture according to Le Corbusier’s notion of the Modulor and in 1955 was the carpenter and sculptor of the Grand Croix for Le Corbusier’s chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut at Ronchamp. Nevertheless, he did not become Le Corbusier’s permanent and exclusive collaborator but continued to work both independently and as a technician to Laurens.

• Savina, Jo(seph)
  • Le Corbusier, §I, 3: Decorative art designs