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 Bookcase, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning A-Frame bookcase by French designer Jacques Adnet. Frame is made of black iron with brass caps. The 5 shelves of this piece are each made of thick ply oak with the edges wra...
Brass, Iron
1950's stitched leather book case or shelve by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Very nice Stitched leather book shelves by Jacques Adnet Great condition France
Brass
1950's Stitched Leather Long Shelve by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Ultra rare longue shelve in stitched leather designed by Jacques Adnet Very good condition Top of the shelves are made with formica.
Leather, Formica
1950s Stitched Leather Shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950s Ultra rare shelve in in stitched leather by Jacques Adnet. France.
Brass
1950's Stitched leather wall shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather wall shelve by Jacques Adnet France Rare piece
Metal
1950's Stitched Leather shelve by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather wall shelve by Jacques Adnet France in the style of Hermès
Metal
1950's Stitched Leather Wall Shelve by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Rare wall shelve fully recovered with stitched leather by Jacques Adnet France 1950's.
Leather
1950's Stitched leather wall shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather wall shelves by Jacques Adnet Great condition France
Leather
1950's Stitched Leather Shelve or Side Bed Table by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Rare shelve or side bed table by Jacques Adnet. All covered with stitched leather. Great condition. France.
Leather
Jacques Adnet Green Leather Wall Shelf (Single)
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Green Leather Wall Shelves by Jacques Adnet
Metal
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 41.25 in W 25.25 in D 7.5 in
1950s French Etagere, Bookshelf or Display Shelf, Black Faux Bamboo after Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Chicago, IL
Jacques Adnet style French metal and brass etagere or open bookshelf or display shelf with four shelves. The faux metal is lacquered black with brass stars and curved side details wi...
Metal, Brass
Adnet Style Saddle Stitched Leather Cantilevered Wall Console
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Hanover, MA
A wall console wrapped in saddle leather supported by two L shaped brackets with a top stitch detail in the manner of Jacques Adnet. One drawer with a piece of leather serving as the...
Leather
$6,798Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 46.46 in W 42.52 in D 11.82 in
Grete Jalk Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Design Teak Bookcases, 1950s
By Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern design teak bookcases set designed by Grete Jalk and produced by P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, movable vertical partition...
Teak
Midcentury Wrought Iron Shelving Bookcase after Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind and original Shelving , bookshelf from the 1970s, crafted from polychrome wrought iron with glass shelves, possibly designed by or after the French artist Jacques Adne...
Wrought Iron
Carl Malmsten pine cabinet, Sweden, 1950s
By Carl Malmsten
Located in Stockholm, SE
Designed by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1950s. Produced in Sweden. Good condition.
Pine
Pair of French Mahogany and Bronze Open Bookcases
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
A pair of Petit Bibliotheques in the manner of Adam Weisweiler constructed using a finely patinated mahogany, brass and bronze; rising from bronze shod turned and tapering circular ...
Brass, Bronze
1950's Stitched Leather shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's Stitched leather book case in clear brown leather Very good condition
Metal, Brass
Large French Neoclassical Pine Bookcase / Shelving
Located in Long Island City, NY
A large French neoclassical Louis XVI style bookcase - Shelving unit.
Pine
$1,020Sale Price|50% Off
H 39.38 in W 43.31 in D 11.82 in
Classic 1950's String Wall System with 10 Shelves Designed by Nils Strinning
By Nils Nisse Strinning
Located in Markington, GB
A classic String wall system in good vintage condition, originally designed in 1949 by Nils Strinning for String Furniture. Since its introduction, the String system has evolved fro...
Metal
Bookcase or Shelves by Jacques Jarrige, 2012
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
This freestanding bookshelf by Jacques Jarrige is a unique sculptural work that transcends the boundaries between furniture and art. Hand-cut from plywood and intuitively shaped with...
Plywood
Totem shelve by Valeric Doubroucinskis for Rodier, 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Totem - 1970s - Vintage Measures : 30x44cm H:208cm Material : Fiberglass Knitwear shelves specially manufactured for the Rodier store interiors in the 1970's. Great display for your ...
Fiberglass
Orba Wall Shelves By Janet Schwietzer For Pace Collection
By Pace Collection, Janet Schweitzer
Located in Hanover, MA
Impressive wall system of extruded polished aluminum incorporating lighting and shelves. Schwietzer's patented design incorporates sophisticated engineering to achieve the appearance of invisible joinery at each cantilevered shelf.
Aluminum
Sold
H 42 in W 30.5 in D 9.5 in
Jacques Adnet French Etagere or Bookshelf Display Shelf Black Metal Faux Bamboo
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Chicago, IL
Jacques Adnet French faux bamboo in metal and brass etagere or open bookshelf or display shelf with four shelves. The faux metal is lacquered black with brass corners. Each shelf is...
Metal, Brass
Jacques Adnet French Modernist Leather Wrapped Shelves
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Incredible black leather two tiered shelf by Jacques Adnet with signature saddle stitched faux bamboo legs, original glass and bronze hardware detailing. This would make an excellent bar. bookcase, nigh stand, side table, bathroom towel shelf...
Bronze
Stitched Leather Book Shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Description : 1950's Stitched leather and pear wood bookcase by Jacques Adnet Great condition France A Rare French Midcentury Modern hand stitched leather and pear wood bookcase b...
Leather, Pearwood
Pair of Stitched Leather Wall Book Shelves by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Pair of stitched leather wall shelves by Jacques Adnet Very good condition France 1950s.
Leather
Jacques Adnet Leather and Oak Bookshelf
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic bookshelf by French designer Jacques Adnet. Oak plank with black leather wrapped bracket. Completely wrapped in leather with signature Adnet contrast stitching. Excellent c...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Beautiful Shelves
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paris, FR
Shelves by Jacques Adnet with a black painted metal and brass structure ended by brass, shelves covered with black leather.
Jacques Adnet, Rare Red Leather Shelf, c.1950
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Encino, CA
Jacques ADNET Extremely rare shelf covered with a piqué sellier red leather and two shelves, mounted on 4 legs with brass sockets. This shelf remained with around 30 other pieces...
Metal, Brass
French Leather Etagere by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Chis French Leather Covered Etagere / Bookcase / Storage Shelves / Console Composed of an Enameled Iron Frame with Solid Brass X Frame Side Supports, Brass Gallery and Finials.
Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron