Although he is among the least known of the like-minded French Art Deco furniture designers of his era, André Sornay introduced innovative fabrication techniques and a unique decorative style to his modernist seating, case pieces and other creations.
Sornay was born in Lyon in 1902, and graduated from École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 1918. His career as a furniture designer began in 1919 when he was appointed head of his family’s furniture company after his father’s death.
In the early 1920s — inspired by the Bauhaus and De Stijl as well as his friends and fellow French avant-garde designers Francis Jourdain and Pierre Chareau — Sornay shifted the company’s focus from manufacturing period reproductions to creating contemporary designs.
Sornay’s work fused tradition with modernism. He preferred to work with metals, exotic woods such as mahogany and rosewood, rubber and Duco lacquer for a range of cabinets, desks, chairs and mirrors. Sornay’s pieces featured sleek brass drawer pulls and sharply geometric lines, and the distinctive mode that he worked in was known throughout Lyon as “Le Style Sornay.”
Sornay was also recognized for his inventive design methods that were not only decorative but functional. In 1932, he patented the cloudage technique — studding the perimeter of veneered furniture panels with uniform brass nails. Sornay integrated this technique into his wardrobes, side tables and the armchairs he designed, which were frequently defined by clean lines and sharp angles. In the early 1950s, he also patented a technique called the “Tigette,” which allowed for quick and easy assembly or disassembly of modular furniture — a forerunner to IKEA’s flat-packed furniture.
While Sornay isn’t as well known as other European modernists like Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, he attracted modest attention at exhibitions of the day, such as the 1923 Salon d’Automne and the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the design fair that brought the Art Deco style to the world. He was awarded the bronze medal at Paris’s Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in 1937.
In the late 1950s, Sornay ceded control of his furniture design company to his children, remaining as an advisor until production ceased in 1999. He died the following year.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage André Sornay case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and tables.
Andre Sornay French Midcentury Mahogany Bedside / End Table
By Andre Sornay
Located in Queens, NY
French Mid-Century mahogany bedside / end table with an upper open compartment / gallery over a rectangular base with a single drawer with a faceted front and central sage green leat...
Wood, Mahogany
Andre Sornay Oregon Pine, Glass and Copper Bar Cart, France, 1950s
By Andre Sornay
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Andre Sornay bar cart in darkened Oregon pine on steel and rubber casters, each tray has an inset glass piece protecting the wood for use. The sides have a discreet line of e...
Copper, Steel
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
Two-Tier Polished Brass Glass Rolling Serving Bar Cart
By Aldo Tura
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Decorative polished brass serving tea bar cart. Larger carriage style wheels.
Brass
Maison Jansen Brass and Crystal Tiny Round Bar Cart, France, 1950s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous compact Mid-Century round bar cart in solid brass and crystal glass. This elegant piece was produced by Maison Jansen in France during the 1950s. In excellent condition, th...
Metal, Brass
French Mahogany 19th Century Louis Philippe Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A columnar, French mahogany and marble top bedside table from the 19th century in the Louis Philippe style, that has the scale and storage to suit practically any room around the hom...
Marble
Midcentury Chrome Glass and Marble Bar Cart
Located in Houston, TX
A midcentury two-tiered chrome, glass, and marble bar cart on casters.
Marble, Chrome
$2,663 / set
H 21.26 in W 19.69 in D 12.21 in
Midcentury Modern Mahogany Bedside Tables, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of elegant bedside tables, made from mahogany with dramatic veneer on the fronts. Decorative round brass handles. Practical shelves under the drawers.
Brass
Midcentury Gueridon End Table, France, 1960s
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
French Vintage Gueridon End Table - Elegant 1960s Design with Versatile Functionality Introducing a charming and elegant French vintage gueridon end table from the 1960s, a testament to the sophisticated design sensibilities of the era. This versatile piece makes the perfect small support table for a living room, or it can be used as a pedestal to display a large planter or a sculpture, adding an air of refinement to any space. The end table features a circular pedestal base with an exquisite anellé design, showcasing the attention to detail and craftsmanship synonymous with 1960s French furniture...
Oak
$1,202Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.47 in W 29.53 in D 20.08 in
French Art Deco Side Table, in the Style of Andre Sornay, ca 1950
By Andre Sornay
Located in Bochum, NRW
A beautiful Art Deco curved side table, in the style of Andre Sornay. France 1950s. Made of solid wood. It is in good overall condition with normal wear and signs of time; it will b...
Wood
$2,012
H 29.14 in W 35.44 in D 23.23 in
Midcentury Cesare Lacca Brass and Black Lacquer Wood Italian Bar Cart, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury vintage serving table or bar cart with brass frame. Cesare Lacca probably designed this extraordinary item and was produced ...
Brass, Metal
Midcentury Walnut End Tables
Located in Denton, TX
California Modern solid walnut beveled top side tables in the style of John Keal.
Walnut
$3,313
H 29.14 in W 29.53 in D 18.31 in
George Coslin Rosewood and Chrome Serving Bar Cart with Drawers, Italy 1950s
By George Coslin, Bernini
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century Italian bar cart, fully made of rosewood, chrome-plated metal, and white laminate. This incredibly elegant and unique piece was designed by George Coslin and pro...
Metal, Chrome
$11,900 / set
H 29.5 in Dm 19.5 in
Pair of French Midcentury Iron & Limestone End/ Side Tables, Giacometti
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti, Jean-Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Pair of French Mid-Century Modern Style Wrought Iron and Limestone Side or End Tables in Style of Alberto and Diego Giacometti for Jean Michel Frank. Each table sits on a ...
Limestone, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 25.99 in W 18.9 in L 25.99 in
Beautiful Art Deco Style Set of Bedside Tables by Andre Sornay, 1930
By Andre Sornay
Located in Oirlo, LI
Beautiful Art Deco style set of bedside tables by Andre Sornay 1930. This is a nice set of bedside tables nicely at height. The designer ...
Pine
Andre Sornay Nightstands
By Andre Sornay
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pair of Andre Sornay nightstands produced in 1950s, France. Constructed of teak wood with white laminate wood top and sides. Single drawer ...
Teak
Rare Andre Sornay Frosted Glass Top and Exotic Wood Accent Table
By Andre Sornay
Located in North Miami, FL
This is all original, acquired from an amazing estate (former dealer, Amy Perlin in Bridgehampton, NY), in its as-found condition. It is very chic and a per...
Opaline Glass, Macassar, Oak
André Sornay Postmodern Style Side Table
By Andre Sornay
Located in Antwerp, BE
Memphis group style occasional table in a special flamed burl wood veneer by Andre Sornay. Postmodern piece that could as well be influenced by his fellow designers Ettore Sottsass,...
Wood
Andre Sornay End Tables
By Andre Sornay
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pair of Andre Sornay end tables produced in 1950s, France. Constructed of teak wood, contrasting sage green and white sliding doors open to reveal storage and extra shelf. Great woo...
Teak
Low Table by Andre Sornay
By Andre Sornay
Located in Albany, NY
low two tier table.
Mahogany
André Sornay Smoker Table, circa 1930
By Andre Sornay
Located in New York, NY
André Sornay - Smoker table, c. 1930 Mahogany
Two French Early Modern Side Tables by Andre Sornay, circa 1930.
By Andre Sornay
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of end tables / nightstands in mahogany by Andre Sornay that illustrate the influence and integration of both sober Modern principles and Art Deco. Priced individually.
Mahogany