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.
$143,374
"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
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Carrara Marble Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French Louis XVI candlesticks from the late 18th century. The stems and bases are made of white Carrara marble, while the fittings are burnished gilded bronze. The base is ...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
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
$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
Antique Austrian Brass Candleabra with Phoenix
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Austrian brass candleabra with phoenix, circa 1900. Beautiful ornate design with four with 1" openings for the candles. The piece is in good condition and measures 14"W x 8.5...
Brass
$1,932 / 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
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
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
$3,069Sale Price|44% Off
H 19.5 in W 17 in D 10 in
In Stock in Los Angeles, Cherry Blossom Glass Candleabra, Simone Crestani
By Simone Crestani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. Cherry blossom menorah glass sculpture, designed and created by Simone Crestani. Designed by...
Glass
$18,000 / set
H 30.32 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Pair of 19th Century Empire Candelabras by Pierre Chibout
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Empire candelabra for five candles each, crafted by Pierre Chibout in the early 19th century. The candelabra are made of patinated and fire-gilded bronze. The candelabras f...
Bronze
Monumental Impressive Pair of Nickel Candleabras
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Supersized and impressive pair of polished nickel candleabra.
Nickel
Pair of Late Gustavian Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of late-Gustavian candlesticks made in Stockholm around 1800. The stems are made of glass columns with a porphyry-imitation paper on the inside. The fittings and light sockets...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
$450 / set
H 5.5 in W 8 in D 4.75 in
Pair of Vintage Italian Gilt Tole Florentine Grapeleaf Candleabra
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of striking circa 1970s Italian candleholders in gilt tole with grapeleaf and grape motif. Each sconce holds two candles. Nice patina / age-appropriate wear to the gilt.
Metal