One of the most elegant and innovative 20th-century French furniture designers, Jacques Adnet created a simple, unadorned signature style that is both trim and vigorous. He began his career in the heyday of the Art Deco era, and in the 1950s, in association with Hermès, created chairs, lamps, desks and other pieces that employed slender metal frames clad in stitched saddle leather. With such furnishings, Adnet brought a fashion sensibility to design and decor that had not been seen since the 1920s prime of the great Paris couturier-decorator Paul Poiret.
Adnet was born in a provincial town in Burgundy, where he studied design before moving, along with his twin brother, Jean, to Paris to study at the École des Arts Décoratifs. After their graduation in the early 1920s, the brothers were hired to work in the decorative-arts atelier of the department store Galeries Lafayette, under the direction of Maurice Dufrêne, an Art Deco master who developed a singularly robust and opulent style. Both Adnets showed their work at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes — the design fair from which the term Art Deco is derived.
In 1928, Jacques Adnet took charge of the struggling La Compagnie des Arts Français, a decorative-arts firm founded by Louis Süe and André Mare that created modern furnishings that bore traces of 18th-century styling. Adnet immediately took the company in a different direction. He developed a simple lithe and lean look that incorporated industrial materials such as metal and glass, along with exotic woods and finishes such as parchment and sharkskin.
Adnet’s furniture begs to be described in terms of personalities: charming faux-bamboo side tables, suave chrome lighting and urbane club chairs. His most noted pieces, which feature sleek metal frames wrapped in Hermès leather, have a character all their own — smooth, elegant and self-assured, they inhabit a room with the same wit and grace as Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve.
Find vintage Jacques Adnet furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Jacques Adnet Leather and Oak Bench / Storage Chest, 1950s
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and rare Jacques Adnet storage bench in green leather and solid oak. Heavy and well built, strong enough to hold multiple people sitting on it and very roomy inside to place...
Metal, Brass
1950's Stitched Leather Bench by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Very nice stitched leather bench by Jacques Adnet. This piece is quiet rare. France. 1950's.
Metal
Vintage-Style Pearl Leather Trunk Bench
Located in Westwood, NJ
Vintage-style pearl leather trunk bench. A fully functional trunk that hinges open to reveal storage. The padded leather exterior makes it a great bench ...
Leather, Wood
$1,043
H 13.78 in W 28.75 in D 13.59 in
1900 Little Rustic Chest or Coffer Gothic Carved Oak & Wrought Iron, French
Located in Labrit, Landes
French coffer or chest made circa 1900. Decorated with carved flowers style. The design of this chest is deliberately rustic. The interior is lined with fabric. Very decorative and ...
Wrought Iron
Pine and Oak Storage Bench or Settle
Located in Baltimore, MD
What an outstanding Box Bench! The oak and the pine contrast beautifully to create a deep rich warmth perfect for this piece. For most of its length the top rail is flat, only follo...
Oak, Pine
$2,097Sale Price|20% Off
H 24.41 in W 54.73 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Chest or Coffer Carved Oak, End of Bed French Provincial
Located in Labrit, Landes
Coffer or chest French 18th century carved oak French Provincial country house Very decorative and full of character Decorated with geometrical and vegetal motifs This chest has the ...
Oak
$1,138Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in W 20.87 in D 13.39 in
19th Century Little Chest or Coffer Teak, English
Located in Labrit, Landes
English coffer or chest made in the 19th century probably in India. The many brass parts give this item a unique style. The numerous compartments in the upper part, as well as the ...
Brass
Storage Bench Decorated with Elephants
Located in Kastrup, DK
Artistic storage bench, naïve and charming in its design. Shape of elephants in amber lacquer between elephants, at the end decorated with vases and flow...
Wood
Lane Cedar Lined Cherry Upholstered Storage Bench Blanket Chest
By Lane Furniture
Located in Germantown, MD
A Lane Altavista Cedar Lined Cherry upholstered seat storage bench or blanket chest in good vintage condition. Panelized front with two faux drawers mounte...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Leather Chair
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible black leather Jacques Adnet chair, France 1950's Sleek design with signature contrast stitching and iron frame.
Iron
Borge Mogensen 1950s Oak and Leather Bench
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia
Located in London, England
Model 3171 bench designed by master-designer Borge Mogensen with frame made from solid oak. The seat has been reupholstered with nw cognac brown aniline leather. Designed 1956 the Mo...
Leather, Oak
$44,500 / set
H 29.38 in W 25.25 in D 27.5 in
Pair of Saddle Leather and Iron Armchairs by Jacques Adnet, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important pair of armchairs by French designer Jacques Adnet. Heavy, tubular iron frame makes a substantial and grounded seat. Cognac saddle leather with signature Adnet contrast sti...
Brass, Iron
19th Century Black Forest Carved Unusual Bear Bench
Located in High Point, NC
An excellent example of a 19th century Black Forest carved wooden bear bench from Switzerland made from linden wood. The bench having h...
Fruitwood
$33,217
H 30.52 in W 51.58 in D 24.22 in
Rare Desk and Armchair by Jacques Adnet, Stitched Leather and Skaï, 1950s
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paris, FR
These desk and armchair by Jacques Adnet are quite rare with its marine type handles. Thea are completely covered with a mix of leather and skaï (faux leather) which is saddle-stitch...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Jacques Adnet Stitched Leather Bench/ Stool
By Jacques Adnet
Located in North Miami, FL
This is an original Jacques Adnet stool/ bench in dark brown stitched leather and brass accent feet. Beautiful from all angles and perfect for added seating. NOTE: we have a desk ...
Brass