Reclaiming the values of the Union des artistes modernes (UAM), Antoine Philippon & Jacqueline Lecoq set out to create furniture without compromising either aesthetics or function. Philippon began as a student of the École Boulle and Lecoq attended the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. They first met in Marcel Gascoin's design studio in 1954, founding their acclaimed design studio in 1956 with "a rigorous and highly moral approach to their craft." Their extraordinary collaboration continued until Philippon's death in 1995.

Leaders in post-war French design, Philippon & Lecoq won the Grand Prix at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958, the Silver Medal at the 1960 Triennial in Milan for Industrial Aesthetics, the René Gabriel Award in 1961 for furniture series, the Gold Medal and the Medal of Honor from the Société d'encouragement à l'art à l'industrie in 1967.