One might imagine Charlotte Perriand's daughter lounging in the famous chaise longue her mother designed in 1928, cradled by a steady flow of royalties. But in reality, she is a busy woman welcoming visitors to the designer's former Paris workshop, which, following her mother's death in 1999, has become her office. Pernette Perriand-Barsac, 80 years old, with bright blue eyes, short hair and spotless sneakers, radiates a certain authority.

Standing behind her, a head taller, was her husband and work partner, Jacques Barsac, 73, talkative and affable. Out of sheer modesty, he described himself as the "gofer" of their small, informal business devoted to Charlotte Perriand's legacy. The author of around 10 works on her career, including a four-volume catalogue raisonné (critical catalogue), Jacques Barsac is a workhorse. He is also the leading expert on "Charlotte," as he and his wife affectionately call her.

In the design world, they are known simply as "Pernette and Jacques," famous for their determination. For the past 20 years, these highly sought-after heirs have skillfully managed the legacy of their mother and mother-in-law. Nothing said, written or produced about Charlotte Perriand has escaped their attention. "They are in control," said an employee of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, who saw them at work during the major retrospective "Charlotte Perriand: Inventing a New World," which Jacques Barsac co-curated, in 2019.

'I was always there for her'

Spread out over all floors of the Frank Gehry-designed building, displaying objects, furniture, reconstructed spaces – including the Maison au bord de l'eau ("House by the Water") and the refuge Tonneau ("Barrel Shelter") – as well as paintings by Fernand Léger and Pablo Picasso, this monumental exhibition drew 450,000 visitors, far exceeding all expectations. The Perriand-Barsacs oversaw every detail. "Their commitment moved and impressed me more than I can say," recalled Jean-Paul Claverie, a close cultural adviser to French billionaire Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, which owns the foundation. "They were driven by a sense of urgency to keep Charlotte's spirit alive." They could have delivered the exhibition turnkey, given their profound knowledge of the subject.

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