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 - A French 1950s Desk with Lamp by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jacques Adnet - A fine French Mid-Century rectangular desk and lamp, with a black lacquered metal base, pivoting leather covered drawer, saddle-stitched leather mail holder...
Metal
Jacques Adnet Leather and Oak Desk, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Art Deco era desk by French Art Deco Modernist designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with 4 posts, inverted u-shaped bases and brass support ...
Brass, Iron
$75,000 / set
Jacques Adnet Leather Desk and Chair, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional Art Deco era desk with matching chair by French modernist designer Jacques Adnet. Entire desk is wrapped in leather. Iron frame with 4 po...
Brass, Iron
Jacques Adnet Iron and Oak Desk, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Art Deco era desk by French Modernist designer Jacques Adnet. Black iron 'A' frame with 4 angled iron legs. Solid oak table top wrapped in black leather with brass studs p...
Iron
$42,000
Jacques Adnet Table/Desk
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Wonderful Jacques Adnet table which could also be used as a desk. Beautiful slatted wood top and signature caramel leather legs with contrast stitch detail New leather beautifully...
Leather, Oak
Fine French 1950s Mahogany Curved Desk by Jacques Adnet '2 Available'
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jacques Adnet: A fine French midcentury mahogany curved desk with a leather top and bronze details. Provenance: Palais des Consuls of Rouen, France. 2 rectangular desks with a simi...
Bronze
Fine French 1950's Rectangular Mahogany Desk by Jacques Adnet (2 available)
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jacques Adnet: A fine French mid-century mahogany desk with a leather top and bronze details. Provenance: Palais des Consuls of Rouen, France. 2 desks available as well as two curved...
Bronze
Jacques Adnet Leather Wrapped Faux Bamboo Desk
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Stamford, CT
An exceptional example of Jacques Adnet signature leather wrapped steel design. Adnet developed this hand stitched leather technique at the end of w...
Leather
Custom 1950s Wall Mounted Modernist Writing Desk
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique handmade custom wall-mounted writing desk made in the 1950s. Solid birch construction with patinated brass accents and a smooth black laminate desk surface that folds up when ...
$3,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.5 in W 39 in D 23.5 in
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fine 19th century French carved oak library table, or writing table desk made in the grand Louis XIII taste. Features thick barley twist legs conjoined on the bottom with barley twis...
Oak
$5,500
H 31.5 in W 42 in D 60 in
19th Century Oak Partners Desk, Leather Writing Surface, Brass Hardware
Located in Toronto, CA
A wonderful probably, 19th century oak partners desk, with a leather writing surface. Each side has a bank of drawers and a cupboard door for serious storage, or you can put both ban...
Oak
France Desk Art Deco, 1920, Materials, Wood and Chrome
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French desk style: Art Deco Year 1920 Material: Wood and chrome It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. ...
Wood
Pierre Jeanneret Desk, 1950s Chandigargh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spectacular pigeonhole desk by Pierre Jeanneret. Made for the Chandigarh project. Used in the administrative buildings in Chindigargh, Sector 1. Angular leg and bookcase back. The word - OFFICE - stenciled on years ago designating it to one of the buildings. One of the most iconic pieces of modern design. Dark green leather top. Single pull out drawer on front left. Looks stunning from every angle. Great piece to float in a room. Desk in excellent vintage condition. Last 5 images are the original photos - pre-restoration. Armrest clearance is 26". Jeanneret Chandigargh Book - Jacques Dworczak...
Leather, Teak
$33,906
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
Art Deco Leather Desk, Light Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Art Deco style shagreen embossed leather desk in a light grey. With gilded highlight trim, three frieze drawers with modern round pulls, and raised on square tapered legs. ...
Leather
$4,601 / set
H 28.35 in W 33.08 in D 20.08 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Small Desk and Chair Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Cute and stylish Italian midcentury modern desk, with a graceful chair, attributed to Paolo Buffa. This teakwood desk it is a splendid example of the Italian class design of 1950. B...
Brass
1950's Stitched Leather Desk by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather desk by Jacques Adnet. Metal is in vintage condition. See pictures for details. Other pics on request, overall very good condition.
Metal
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 35.5 in D 20 in
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular 19th century French bureau plat writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretcher. Crafted from oak in the grand Louis XIII style fronted by a large 27 inch...
Oak
Oak Art Deco Desk with Bronze Handles
By Abbess
Located in London, GB
A freestanding oak Art Deco style pedestal desk with bronze handles by Abbess. Each pedestal having one writing slide over four drawers with bronze han...
Bronze
Art Deco Style Leather Top Desk
By Global Views
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Three drawer desk or writing table crafted in mahogany with a white leather top over a sleek elegant form with art deco influence, finished all around with a convex mirror on the bac...
Leather, Mahogany
Wrought iron desk with its matching chair by Jacques Adnet
By Compagnie Des Arts Français, Jacques Adnet
Located in Uccle, BE
Wrought iron desk with its matching chair by Jacques Adnet. Desk in black patinated wrought iron by Jacques Adnet , Compagnie des Arts Français. The feet supporting the belt of the u...
Steel, Wrought Iron
Jacques Adnet pique sellier leather and brass desk 1950
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful desk table with drawer, bureau de dame, in black leather by Jacques Adnet dating from the early 1950s. This desk is characteristic of Adnet's work, soft saddle-stitched lea...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Vanity, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning vanity by French designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame completely wrapped in pink leather. Legs taper down to sharp exposed iron and end with brass ball feet. Tops of each leg ...
Iron, Brass
Jacques Adnet Table
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Wonderful Jacques Adnet table which could also be used as a desk. Beautiful slatted oak wood top and signature caramel leather legs with contrast stitch detail New leather beautif...
Leather, Oak
Jacques Adnet Desk
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare and important desk by Jacques Adnet wrapped in black leather with signature saddle stitching and 3 drawers. Curved legs wrapped in leather with b...
Leather, Acrylic, Walnut
Sold
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 36.23 in
J.Adnet, Petit Bureau Chêne 'Référencé' / Small Oak Desk 'Referenced', 1955
By Jacques Adnet
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jacques Adnet (1900/1984, France) : Petit bureau fonctionnel chêne tripode à tiroir coulissant vendu avec sa clé (fonctionne) / Small fonctionnal oak wood tripod desk with one slidin...
Oak
Jacques Adnet Desk
By Jacques Adnet
Located in London, GB
A rare desk by Jacques black and burgundy leather.
Steel
Sold
H 38.78 in W 34.45 in D 21.26 in
Drop-Leaf Desk with Its Seat and Visitor’s Stool by Jacques Adnet
By Compagnie Des Arts Français, Jacques Adnet
Located in Uccle, BE
Rare drop-leaf desk with black leather-covered letter holder accompanied by its seat and visitor's stool. X-shaped base in brass in imitation of bamboo contrasting with the covering...
Brass
Modernist Desk by Jacques Adnet, c1940
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A modernist design desk in solid oak and mahogany four legs with brass sabots, single lockable drawer and inset hyde leather top the desk is in excellent original condition benefitti...
Mahogany, Oak
Jacques Adnet Leather Covered Writing Desk, France, 1950
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Amazing and extraordinary small writing desk designed by Jacques Adnet and manufactured by Atalier Jacques Adnet, France, 1950. This super nice shaped and super quality desk has a brass structure frame, fully covered with black leather and the top and cross bar between the legs are made of brass. The desk is in fully original condition and has an amazing patina from age and usage. Nice small sized desk with 2 rotating drawers...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Desk
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisite desk by French Designer Jacques Adnet. Iron frame with wood top and red leather trim. Just under 4 feet wide. Catchall rack on the left side also wrapped in red leather wit...
Brass, Iron
Jacques Adnet Stitched Leather Executive Desk, France, 1940s
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare and important Jacques Adnet double pedestal executive desk covered in Hermès saddle leather with stitching with brass details. Locking desk with orig...
Brass