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"Chaises Basses" Low Chairs by Charles Dudouyt, France 1930s

Name: "Chaises Basses" Low Chairs by Charles Dudouyt, France 1930s
Brand: Charles Dudouyt
Price: 1950 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Turned chairs — sometimes called thrown chairs or spindle chairs — represent a style of Elizabethan or Jacobean turned furniture that had a vogue in late 16th and early 17th century England, New England and Holland. The technique was carried on to the 20th century and was widespread in Europe as well, where craftsmen created durable pieces for various interiors and purposes. These chairs were designed by French designer, Charles Dudouyt, who originally created this pair of small carved chairs as ‘fireside’ chairs, hence the “chaises basses” or low seats. He crafted wooden furniture in strong Art Deco forms, using playful geometries and construction methods more in keeping with the robust Arts and Crafts Movement. The design features large and wonderful decorative finials atop the backs. These sphere-shaped elements aren’t the only ornamentations on the design; the shape of the splats on the backs, the carved stretchers and the papercord sears are all decorative features that make the design visually arresting. In later turned chairs, papercord seats were common, also in Europe where the fabric was a widespread and popular material. The seats are made of durable woven twisted cord, with a light colour that beautifully contrasts to the dark wood of the structures. The legs are joined by box stretchers, enhancing the square-shape of the design. Interestingly, the squares are incomplete, the back stretchers are absent, presumably to balance out the decorative backs. The partnership of the two natural materials is very effective as well; the wood and papercord pair flawlessly to showcase the skill of the maker. The details of these turned chairs point to the involvement of a great cabinetmaker. The small-scale version may have been created as an apprentice piece, or show-piece, or as a display sample. Nowadays, turned furniture are mostly made by automated machinery, therefore handcrafted pieces like this pair are increasingly rare and valuable. Similarly, small-scale furniture pieces have become sought-after works again in the 21st century. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Small scratches and marks on the wood. Dimensions: 16.54 in W x 15.75 in D x 23.62 in H; Seat height 11.42 in 42 cm W x 40 cm D x 60 cm H; Seat height 29 cm Shipping: These chairs will be packaged and shipped with the greatest care and attention to make sure you will receive the items in gallery condition. Complimentary shipping within the Netherlands.

Creator:

Charles Dudouyt (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 23.63 in (60 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)Seat Height: 11.42 in (29 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Papercord,Wood

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

1930-1939

Date of Manufacture:

1930s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Small scratches and marks on the wood.

Seller Location:

Utrecht, NL

Reference Number:

Seller: 888800921stDibs: LU2947330679312

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Shop All Charles Dudouyt

Charles Dudouyt

A favorite among Art Deco furniture collectors and enthusiasts, the work of Charles Dudouyt is known for its rustic and modernist sensibilities rather than the classicist design associated with the French designer and decorator's native country in the early 20th century.

Born in 1885, Dudouyt nurtured his artistic passions while studying at the Germain Pilon school. Upon graduating, he painted and earned a living as an illustrator at French publishing houses such as Calmann-Lévy and a weekly satirical magazine called L’Assiette au Beurre.

In 1918, after he returned from fighting in World War I, Dudouyt left his career as a painter and illustrator and turned to design interior furnishings instead. With his wife, he created and produced lighting fixtures and decorative objects, and in 1920, he founded a rustic furniture factory in Pontoise called L’Abeillée.

Over the next decade, Dudouyt expanded into larger-scale furniture design. In 1933, he moved to Paris and established a manufacturing company called La Gentilhommière, in which he had a store and a workshop. There, he produced a range of furniture, including chairs, cabinets, armchairs and credenzas. Dudouyt worked with a variety of woods that included oak, ash and beech, and integrated other organic materials in his seats and backrests such as leather, wicker and rope.

Dudouyt is known for his way of “embellishing chunky proportions with elegant carvings,” according to Amanda Jesse and Whitney Parris-Lamb of New York City design firm Jesse Paris-Lamb. Vintage Dudouyt sideboards, console tables and seating feature the distinct details now associated with Art Deco, such as geometric inlays, pronounced shapes and raised carved motifs. His oak dining chairs, while lauded for their substantial frames and durability, can also be seen as inviting and light in their sleek legs and armrests.

After he died in 1946, Dudouyt’s son Jacques continued operating La Gentilhommière until it closed in 1960. Today, Charles Dudouyt’s pieces continue to be highly sought by Art Deco interior designers and aficionados.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Charles Dudouyt furniture.