Artist and furniture creator André Dubreuil rejected the label "designer” and dismissed the notion of form over function. He’s on record as having said, "if we were merely functionalists we would still be sitting on rocks." Dubreuil's passion was to catch a person's attention and hold it — he did that with outwardly sculptural chairs, wrought iron tables and other furnishings.
Though his works serve their intended function quite well, Dubreuil intentionally masked their purpose in favor of producing pieces that bring delight to the beholder — as exemplified in his Spine chair, created in 1986. Arabesque lines bring form to his work by way of an almost lace-like structure in slender, curving metal table frames and chair legs. It's art that bears a resemblance to furniture.
Originally from Lyon, France, Dubreuil came from a wealthy pharmaceutical and medical research family. He had a classical upbringing, surrounded by ornate furniture and lavish decor, and so became accustomed to the finer things in life.
As a teenager, he moved to London to study drawing and drafting at the Inchbald School of Design. Dubreuil became a painter and worked as an antiques dealer before he fell in love with decorating. In 1981, he opened a workshop — alongside three colleagues, including British furniture designer Tom Dixon — creating decorative furniture from salvaged pieces of scrap metal and automotive parts.
Dubreuil drew on the work of French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle and Louis XV-era furnishings as well as French Art Deco and Emilé-Jacques Ruhlmann. He eventually produced a body of work in patinated steel, copper, marble and colored glass for clients including Louis Vuitton and Chanel that would be just as much at home in an art gallery as it would be in a parlor or dining room.
Dubreuil passed away in 2022, leaving behind a magnificent array of furnishings that invite admiration and uplift any space.
Find vintage André Dubreuil tables, seating and lighting on 1stDibs.
$140,921
"Perles" candleabra
By André Dubreuil
Located in Paris, FR
The "Perles" candlesticks reveal all the poetry that André Dubreuil knew how to breathe into metal. Nicknamed the Poet of Iron, he transformed a raw, rigid material into forms that s...
Metal, Bronze, Iron
$16,000
H 23.5 in W 9.25 in D 7.5 in
Gilded Bronze & Blue John Candleabra in the Manner of Matthew Boulton
By Matthew Boulton
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine pair of four-light candelabra are English and made circa 1820. In the manner and style of the great English sliver and bronze craftsman Matthew Boulton, they are made from ...
Rock Crystal, Ormolu
Claude Boeltz, Bronze Eclaté Candleabras, France, circa 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
Claude Boeltz’s candelabras possess the asymmetrical, numinous beauty of lightening, mimicking the natural phenomenon in hue, form, and arrangement.
Quartz, Bronze
English Gothic Style Bronze Dore Altar Candlesticks
Located in Queens, NY
2 English Gothic-style (19th century) bronze dore altar sticks with 3 religious figures. (priced each).
Bronze
Pair of Scandinavian Modern Bronze Candlesticks, Sweden, 1960s.
By Sune Bäckström, Just Andersen, Einar Backstrom, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget
Located in Malmö, SE
A pair of beautiful bronze candlesticks with amazing patina. Made in Sweden, 1960s, by an unknown designer and manufacturer. Great original condition.
Bronze
$1,920 / set
H 12.21 in W 7.88 in D 1.97 in
Pair of 19th Century Arabic Style French Champlieve Enamel Candleabra
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of Arabic influenced French, late 19th century gilded ormolu and Champlieve enamel candelabra two branch candelabra. Measures: 12" (31cm) high. Batch 41 G899...
Enamel, Ormolu
$2,720Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 15 in D 15 in
Pair of French 19th C. Candleabra Bronze Dore Et Patine, Marble and Black Base
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of French candleabrum with marble and black stone base, having scrolled handles With Bacchus mask joins. Each with seven candle nozzles, the standar...
Bronze
Monumental Black Hand Wrought Iron 3 Tiered Spanish Freestanding Candleabra
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Dramatic and impressive in scale Spanish vintage freestanding hand wrought iron candelabra having 3 tiers that rotate and have spikes to hold multiple candles. Tiers are as follows: ...
Wrought Iron
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze and Ormalu Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (20th century) gilt and patinated bronze 3 light candelabra with winged figural columns and flame finial on ormolu mounted base. (Priced as pair).
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century II Empire Four-Light Candleabra
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of lovely and refined matte and gilded bronze four light candleabras with siena marble bases, Napoleon III period (would also make handsome lamps)
Marble, Bronze
$4,700 / set
H 19 in W 13.5 in D 13.5 in
Pair of Late 19th Century Neoclassical Gilt Bronze 4-Arms Candelabras, France
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair of late 19th century Neoclassical gilt bronze/ormolu 4-Arms candelabras, France By: unknown Material: bronze, copper, tin, metal, ormolu Technique: cast, molded, polished, meta...
Metal, Bronze, Copper, Ormolu, Tin
$995
H 18 in W 11 in D 3.5 in
Large Napoleon III Period French Bronze Wall Sconce of Classical Female Figure
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Napoleon III period bronze sconce features a classical female figure standing atop curling acanthus and flowers. Two candle arms extend from the floral base. The unusual large s...
Bronze
Incredible Pair of Brass Flower Motif Candleabra
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely pair of tall circular brass candleabra having decorative flower motif candle holders at graduated heights. Will sell individually.
Brass