Christian Liaigre Courier dining table, Ebonized Oak, Holly Hunt, France, 2017. 100” x 42” x 29.5” H. This table was initially designed by Christian Liaigre for his house in Ile de Ré… a rustic house in harmony with the environment, whilst remaining sophisticated and unpredictable. The Long Courrier reflects the identity of the island - the fishermen's houses and nature. With its iconic base, it has become one of the Liaigre’s most iconic designs and a supreme example of Modern Minimalism. The courier table is an elegant synonym of simplicity and organic authenticity, the image of Ile de Ré.

Liaigre was born in the Vendée region of France where he grew up on his parent’s farm. Christian’s parents bred horses, a detail that has had a substantial influence in his work which has been described as having “strong equestrian flavor.” As a young man he attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied painting. By the early 60’s he returned to Vendée where he worked on his parent’s farm – perhaps re-opening his eyes to the beauty of country living. In the early 1970’s, Liaigre returned to Paris where he worked as a design director at Nobilis Fontan. Eventually, he left Nobilis, as they wouldn’t allow him to show his own furniture. The joke was on them when he opened his own Parisian design studio in the late 80’s.

In 1985, he opened his first store, and he designed the Hôtel Montalembert in 1990. In 1997, he designed The Mercer Hotel in New York City. His clients included Larry Gagosian, Marina Abramovic, Bryan Adams, Calvin Klein, Rupert Murdoch, and Carole Bouquet. The Wall Street Journal described Liaigre as a "great minimalist".

The American designer Holly Hunt first introduced Liaigre's work to the US, and he designed the Christian Liaigre for Holly Hunt Collection from 1994-2011 with his works produced in France and sold as “Christian Liaigre at Holly Hunt” until 2017. Liaigre passed away on 2 September 2020 at the age of 77.