French architect, sculptor and designer André Arbus was destined to become one of the 20th century’s finest furniture makers. According to him, the craft was in his blood. “I come from an old family of cabinetmakers,” he once said. “From father to son for a very long time. In other words, I was born in a cabinet-making workshop.”
Born in Toulouse in 1903, Arbus spent his childhood working in his father’s business which sold reproductions of 18th century French furniture. He later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse under sculptor Henry Parayre.
After graduating, Arbus returned to work with his father as the business’s artistic director. When his father retired, Arbus transformed the company from selling furniture reproductions to one that produced his own formidable designs, including cocktail tables, sofa tables and floor lamps that merged neoclassicism with Art Deco and featured alluring modernist characteristics.
In 1925, Arbus exhibited at several shows, including the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, Salon d’Automne, the Gallery L’Epoque and won a medal at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, which brought the Art Deco style to the global stage.
Arbus moved to Paris in 1932, won the prestigious Premier Prix Blumenthal in 1934 and opened his own gallery in 1935. His sconces, chandeliers and dining room tables attracted a steady clientele of some of Paris’s wealthiest. Arbus exhibited at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and, throughout the 1940s, received numerous notable commissions. The French government gave many of his pieces as gifts to visiting foreign heads of state. He furnished several luxury ocean liners, collaborated with Maison Veronese on a line of lighting fixtures and was tasked to build a jewel cabinet for Princess Elizabeth.
In 1946, Arbus participated in the refurbishment of the Élysée Palace and the Château de Rambouillet with fellow French architects and designers Louis Süe and Jean-Charles Moreux.
Arbus focused on sculpture throughout the 1950s until he died in 1969, drawing inspiration from eminent sculptors such as Vadim Androusov and Sylva Bernt. Today, Arbus’s works can be found in museums around the world.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage André Arbus lighting, tables and seating.
Andre Arbus Cabinet with Vitrine
By André Arbus
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco cabinet with vitrine. Rosewood with beveled glass sliding doors and bronze mounts, circa 1938.
Rosewood
$3,200Sale Price|23% Off
H 29.75 in W 45.25 in D 18.5 in
Mastercraft Brass Illuminated Demilune Vitrine Cabinet, 1970s, Signed
By Mastercraft, Bernhard Rohne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredible brass demilune display cabinet, produced by Mastercraft in the 1970s, features a mirrored and illuminated interior, exquisite textured top, a pair of glass doors and ...
Brass
$16,599Sale Price|20% Off
H 109.45 in W 63 in D 25.6 in
19th Century French Walnut Renaissance Grand Cabinet with Crystal Vitrines
Located in Sofia, BG
This magnificent and rare 19th century Renaissance grand cabinet with vitrines features intricate decorations heavily carved into the solid walnut wood. There are massive carved wood...
Walnut
Art Dèco Italian Walnut Vitrines or Bar Display Cabinet, 1925
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Art Dèco vitrines or display cabinet, Italian production of the 1920s, in walnut and walnut briar, screen-printed glass with grinding around. The showcase has been restored and polis...
Crystal
Pair of Black Wooden Vitrine Cabinets with Glass Doors
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of cabinets / vitrines made of black painted wood on the outside and natural color wood on the inside. Door and sides made of glass, wooden shelves. The cabinets are new, unused...
Glass, Wood
$3,129
H 53.15 in W 49.22 in D 11.82 in
Art Deco Spectacular Clove Display Vitrine Cabinet, English, c1930s
Located in Devon, England
Fabulous, original 1930s Art Deco display vitrine cabinet. Very unusual shape of which we haven't had before. This cabinet features a generous...
Glass, Walnut
$3,407
H 49.61 in W 41.74 in D 14.18 in
Art Deco Spectacular Display Cabinet Vitrine, English, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
Impressively wacky shaped and genuinely rare design is this superb 1930's English Art Deco Display cabinet. This beautiful cabinet is veneered in a lightly figured walnut veneer which has the most glorious patterning to the grain and retains a mid tone in colouring. The interior features a generously sized display area for your collection. There are three internal glass shelves . The beautiful astragal glass...
Glass, Walnut, Plywood, Bentwood
$3,963
H 56.3 in W 60.63 in D 13 in
Art Deco Impressive Walnut Display Cabinet Vitrine, English, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
This is a superb example of an English made Art Deco display cabinet, dating to the 1930s and very popular at the time for displaying your best 'china' usually displayed in what was ...
Lead
$3,685
H 53.15 in W 41.34 in D 11.82 in
Spectacular Art Deco Walnut 'Rocket Cabinet', Vitrine, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this fabulous and iconic Art Deco 'Rocket Cabinet' made in the 1930's and in veneered in a lovely mid tone walnut. Extremely hard to source and even harder ...
Metal
$3,963
H 53.15 in W 41.34 in D 11.82 in
Stunning Art Deco Walnut 'Rocket Cabinet', Vitrine, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this fabulous and iconic Art Deco 'Rocket Cabinet' made in the 1930's and in veneered in a lovely mid tone walnut. Extremely hard to source and even harder ...
Metal
$7,200
H 81 in W 59.75 in D 18 in
Barbara Barry for Henredon Vitrine Cabinet with Glass Doors and Shelves
By Henredon, Barbara Barry
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Barbara Barry for Henredon wooden bow front vitrine cabinet from the late 20th century with oval motifs, glass doors and glass shelves. Designed by Barbara Barry for Henredon during the later years of the 20th century, this wooden cabinet features a thin curving cornice sitting above two bow-front glass doors, adorned with thin oval motifs and fitted with a single brass pull. These doors open to reveal four glass in wooden frames inner shelves offering convenient display opportunities. The ensemble is raised on four short tapered feet. The décor on the side shows great restraint as it is left bare and the back is simply planked. With its clean lines and modern design, this Barbary Barry for Henredon vintage vitrine...
Glass, Wood
Art Deco Walnut 'Rocket Cabinet', Vitrine, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this fabulous and iconic Art Deco 'Rocket Cabinet' made in the 1930's and in veneered in a lovely mid tone walnut. Extremely hard to source and even harder ...
Metal
Mastercraft Burl Wood Curio Display Cabinet Vitrine
By Mastercraft
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Dramatic and striking Mastercraft burl wood and glass curio display cabinet with gold veined mirror back, arched and finely beveled window pane...
Brass