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.
$9,500 / item
Jacques Adnet Black Leather Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with black leather seat and seat back. Signature Adnet contrast stitching throughout. Brass ball feet. Excellent condition ...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Jacques Adnet Leather Armchair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare leather and iron armchair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Entire chair is wrapped in handstitched leather. Brass capped feet and brass hardware detailing on chair backs. Seat ...
Iron
Jacques Adnet Sculptural Leather Swivel Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kick back on this stunning chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. An iron frame is wrapped completely in beautiful camel-colored leather. Four legs extend to form a tripod base. The...
Metal
Jacques Adnet Green Leather Chair, Circa 1950s, France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare chair by French architect and Art Deco Modernist designer and icon of luxurious French Modernism, Jacques Adnet, circa 1950s. Upholstered in sumptuous green leather. Brass and l...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Stitched Leather Armchairs by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Pair of stitched leather armchairs by Jacques Adnet From a set of 6, 1 other pairs are black 1 other pair in clear brown, France.
Brass
Pair of Stitched leather chairs by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather bi-color chairs Black and red leather Designed by Jacques Adnet
Metal
Pair of Stitched Leather Armchairs by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Pair of stitched leather armchairs by Jacques Adnet From a set of six 1 pair in black 1 pair in burgundy.
Brass
Jacques Adnet Leather Chair
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Black iron frame with black leather seat and seat back. Chair sits on brass feet and features a triangular support under the seat whi...
Iron
Jacques Adnet Black Leather Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning black leather chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Black metal frame with its legs ending in brass ball feet. Brass balls adorn the top of the frame as well. Thick leathe...
Brass, Iron
Pair of Stitched Leather Armchairs by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Pair of stitched leather armchairs by Jacques Adnet From a set of 6 others pairs are burgundy and clear brown, 1950s, France.
Brass
$1,993 / set
H 31.5 in W 17.33 in D 15.75 in
Pair of Fibreglass Side Chairs by Rene Jean Caillette, France 1950s
By Sedia-Steiner
Located in London, GB
A rare set of 2 fibreglass chairs by Rene Jean Caillette. Brown background and multicolour floral pattern. Designed and produced in France between 1950-1959. René-Jean Caillet...
Steel
4 French 1950s Dining / Side Beech Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
4 French 1950s beechwood and vinyl upholstered side chairs. Price is per chair.
Beech
Hunting Chairs, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of hunting chairs and matching table - 1950s Mid-century hunting chairs set of three made in the 1950s in Sweden. The back of the chairs are made of two deer antlers while the l...
Antler
$38,500 / set
H 35.5 in W 18.5 in D 20 in
Set of 8 French Maple and Silk Side Chairs 'manner of Jacques Adnet'
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 8 French (1940s) style brass & maple side chairs with X form open backs above removable pink silk upholstered backs and seats. (manner of JACQUES ADNET) (PRICED AS Set) (4 ori...
Metal, Brass
Set of 6 Fine French 1950s Walnut Dining Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of six fine French Mid-Century solid walnut side chairs with a lattice back, in the manner of Jacques Adnet.
Fabric, Wood
Audoux & Minet Tripod Rope Chair, France, 1950s
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A lovely rope and wood chair by Frida Minet and Adrien Audoux, 1950s, France. These unusual sculptural chairs are a typical Audoux et Minet modernist design incorporating elements of...
Rope, Wood
Set of 6 Fine French 1950s-1960s Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of six fine French Mid-Century sculptural solid oak side chairs.
Oak
$4,824Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 28.35 in W 19.49 in D 18.31 in
Pair of Midcentury Art Deco Barrel Hall Chairs Side Chairs, France, Circa 1950
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Mid Century Art Deco Barrel Chairs. France, Circa 1950. In excellent vintage condition commensurate of age. Please message for an acc...
Teak
Pair of armchairs by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet, Compagnie Des Arts Français
Located in Uccle, BE
Pair of armchairs with armrests covered in saddle stitched leather by Jacques Adnet, Compagnie des Arts Français. Pair of low armchairs with armrests covered in black saddle stitched...
Brass
Daybed by Jacques Adnet Black Stitched Leather and Brass, France 1950
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Miami, FL
Jacques Adnet Daybed in Black Stitched Leather with Brass Accents, France, circa 1950 Elegant and rare daybed by Jacques Adnet, France, circa 1950, exemplifying the designer’s signa...
Brass
Set of 4 Fine 1950s Dining Chairs
By Ateliers Saint Sabin
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of four fine French mid-century "compass / gondola" solid beech side chairs.
Faux Leather, Beech
$8,247 / set
H 32.68 in W 16.54 in D 18.12 in
Pair of Audoux & Minet Tripod Rope Chairs, France, 1950s
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb pair of rope and wood chairs by Frida Minet and Adrien Audoux, 1950s, France. These unusual sculptural chairs are a typical Audoux et Minet modernist design incorporating el...
Rope, Wood
Jacques Adnet Arm Chair
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare Jacques Adnet Arm Chair Signature saddle stitched leather over heavy steel with deep chocolate seat and back Floating back cushion is att...
Steel
Vintage Jacques Adnet Leather Side Chairs, Set of 4
By Jacques Adnet
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Jacques Adnet was an art deco designer known for his creations in leather. These side chairs were acquired from Paris and, in their original leather, are a rare and beautiful example...
Brass, Steel
Jacques Adnet Black Leather Armchair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and rare leather and metal armchair by French designer Jacques Adnet. This chair is completely wrapped in expertly hand-stitched black leather with brass capped feet and brass hardware detailing on floating backrest and under the waterfall armrests. Seat bottom and frame made of a solid metal making it extremely sturdy. Signature Adnet contrast stitching on every seam as is common with the French modernist designer...
Iron, Metal, Brass
Jacques Adnet Armchair, 1950s, France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning foldable chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with chocolate brown Skai seat and seat back. Signature Adnet contrast stitching throughout. Brass ball feet. Bot...
Metal, Brass
Jacques Adnet Leather Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning black leather armchair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Black metal frame with tapered legs, ending in brass ball feet. Brass balls adorn the top of the frame as well. Thic...
Brass, Iron
Jacques Adnet Green Armchair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful armchair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Black metal frame with a stunning emerald green Skai seat, seat back and arm rests in an elegant style of crocodile skin. Brass h...
Iron, Brass
Jacques Adnet Black Leather Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original side chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with black leather seat and seat back. Signature Adnet contrast stitching throughout as well as brass ball feet. Comp...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Set of 4 Black Jacques Adnet Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant chairs by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with black skai seat and seat back. Signature Adnet contrast stitching throughout. Brass ball feet on all four chairs. Can...
Metal
Set of 4 Brown Jacques Adnet Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant side chair by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with chocolate brown skai seat and seat back. Signature Adnet contrast stitching throughout. Can be folded down for st...
Metal
Jacques Adnet Pair of Folding Leather Chairs, France 1950's
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Jacques Adnet folding chairs in stitched black leather and black enameled frames on brass feet.
Brass, Steel
Set of Four Jacques Adnet Leather Folding Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare set of 4 dark green folding leather and iron chairs by French designer Jacques Adnet. Slats for seat bottom and seat back all wrapped in leather and supported with a d...
Iron
Pair of Jacques Adnet Leather Dining Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of Jacques Adnet leather chairs perfectly restored in period-correct cognac leather. Brass hardware and wrought iron legs.
Leather