Michel Zadouna�sky On Sale

Michel Zadounaïsky was well known in his own time, and is duly recognized today, for his meticulous execution of wrought iron furnishings and artwork. Having learned the trade at a very young age, he became devoted to the medium, eventually attracting the attention of the wealthy French elite of the 1920s and 1930s. The artist’s level of craftsmanship and intriguing designs single him out as one of the most unique and expressive voices of the French Art Deco. Zadounaïsky was born in Odessa, a Black Sea port of the Russian Empire, in 1903. In 1916, when Zadounaïsky was only 13 years old, he and his parents emigrated to Lyon, France. Rebellious to the core, Zadounaïsky ran away from home three years later to attend the Beaux-Arts de Lyon. Though he quit after less than a year, the artist was able to make lasting connections with Art Nouveau contemporaries such as André Sornay, Claudius Linossier and Christian Krass. Out on his own, Zadounaïsky was intent to learn the art of blacksmithing. Devoting four years to the craft, and apprenticing with the Fournet chandelier makers, he was finally able to open his own enterprise. Going into business for himself, Zadounaïsky was able to explore his artistic leanings. During the 1920s, he developed his well known style, characterized by curves, interlacing patterns and sharp points. Zadounaïsky was heavily interested in animal motifs—particularly snakes—and this left a large impact on his body of work. Zadounaïsky’s work gained recognition as he continued to create singular pieces which were bold and functional. Considering himself a true craftsman, Zadounaïsky was involved in all stages of production, from drafting to fabrication. The artist’s work gained recognition from as monumental a contemporary as Raymond Subes, who extended several offers of employment and collaboration. Just like his contemporaries, Zadounaïsky was active in exhibiting his works. At the 13th Salon des Tuileries in 1935, his pieces were noticed by Ferdinand-Antoine, the Viscount de Lacroix-Laval. The nobleman’s enthusiasm for the artist’s work led him to commission Zadounaïsky to create several pieces of lighting for his chateau at Noailles in south-central France. Zadounaïsky died in 1983, but his designs remain as a legacy of his genius. Many of his creations are fixtures in the market as examples of Art Deco wrought iron mastery.

Art Deco furniture is characterized by its celebration of modern life. More than its emphasis on natural wood grains and focus on traditional craftsmanship, vintage Art Deco dining chairs, tables, desks, cabinets and other furniture — which typically refers to pieces produced during the 1920s and 1930s — is an ode to the glamour of the “Roaring Twenties.” 

ORIGINS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

• Emerged in the 1920s 
• Flourished while the popularity of Art Nouveau declined
• Term derives from 1925’s Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris, France
• Informed by Ancient Egypt, Cubism, Futurism, Louis XVI, De Stijl, modernism and the Vienna Secession; influenced Streamline Moderne and mid-century modernism 

CHARACTERISTICS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

• Bold geometric lines and forms, floral motifs
• Use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood
• Metal accents, shimmering mirrored finishes
• Embellishments made from exotic animal hides, inlays of mother-of-pearl or ivory

ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

• Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
• René Lalique
• Eileen Gray
• Jean Dunand
• Donald Deskey
• Jean Perzel

VINTAGE ART DECO FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

Few design styles are as universally recognized and appreciated as Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship.

Widely known designers associated with the Art Deco style include Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Eileen Gray, Maurice Dufrêne, Paul Follot and Jules Leleu.

The term Art Deco derives from the name of a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925. “Art Deco design” is often used broadly, to describe the work of creators in associated or ancillary styles. This is particularly true of American Art Deco, which is also called Streamline Moderne or Machine Age design. (Streamline Moderne, sometimes known as Art Moderne, was a phenomenon largely of the 1930s, post–Art Nouveau.)

Art Deco textile designers employed dazzling floral motifs and vivid colors, and while Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked, they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture.

From mother-of-pearl inlaid vitrines to chrome aviator chairs, bold and inventive works in the Art Deco style include chaise longues (also known as chaise lounges) and curved armchairs. Today, the style is still favored by interior designers looking to infuse a home with an air of luxury and sophistication.

The vintage Art Deco furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes dressers, coffee tables, decorative objects and more.