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.
French Modern Neoclassical Chinese Red Lacquer Sideboard by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Two Rare and Exceptional French Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical Sideboards in Chinese red lacquer with Chinese red glass tops by Jacques Adnet, Franc...
Wrought Iron
1950's Sideboard in Oak, Stitched Leather and Ceramic by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
A Rare French Midcentury Modern hand stitched leather and ceramic top sideboard by Jacques Adnet, circa 1955. Adnet had a rare talent for creating works that had used exquisite for...
Ceramic, Leather, Oak
1950's Stitched Leather Sideboard by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950's stitched leather sideboard by Jacques Adnet Oak and leather.
Leather, Oak
1950's Stitched leather and wood sideboard by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
A Rare French Midcentury Modern hand stitched leather sideboard by Jacques Adnet, circa 1955. Adnet had a rare talent for creating works that had used exquisite form and lines with ...
Leather, Wood
$8,400
H 36 in W 73 in D 21 in
Tall Bleached White Wash Painted Walnut Marble-Top French Sideboard Console
Located in Rockaway, NJ
French circa 19th century white paint wash marble-top sideboard console. Standing 36" tall on elegant legs connected with beautifully carved stretcher. The sideboard has three d...
Marble
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
$9,011 / item
H 23.63 in W 63 in D 17.72 in
Contemporary Alma Floating Sideboard, Brass, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Contemporary Floating Sideboard Alma, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Alma floating sideboard embodies the essence of the soul, featurin...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$4,777
H 29.53 in W 76.19 in D 17.72 in
Lovely Harrods Flamed Hardwood and Green Leather Military Campaign Sideboard
By Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely vintage Harrods London flamed mahogany with green leather gold leaf tooled doors, Military Campaign sideboard with drawers A very well made and decor...
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century English Oak Sideboard
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak sideboard from England with a beveled edge around the top, following down to paneled sides and two drawers in the front with raised geometric panels, flanked by hand...
Oak
$2,995Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 70.87 in D 17.33 in
Large Art Deco Mirror Console Table Attributed to Jacques Adnet, France 1930.
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Brussels, BE
Large Art Deco modernist wall console fully covered with mercury mirror. Square feet. Some parts of the mirror are stained. Attributed to Jacques Adnet- France-1930.
Mirror, Hardwood
Modern Black Cerused Oak Sideboard Buffet
Located in North York, ON
Modern black cerused oak sideboard buffet. Featuring a dark ebonized black ceruse finish with contrasting white grains. Doors open with sleek pus...
Oak
$3,800
H 37.75 in W 102.5 in D 19.75 in
Fine French 1950s Sycamore and Rosewood Sideboard with Original Painted Doors
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine French Mid-Century rosewood and sycamore sideboard with original four painted doors and brass details.
Brass
$59,895 / set
H 34 in W 36 in D 18 in
Pair French Hand Stitched Leather & Brass Faux Bamboo Commodes by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Important Pair of French Midcentury Modern Neoclassical hand stitched leather and brass faux bamboo cabinets, dressers, commodes or chest of drawers by Jacques Adnet, circ...
Brass
$3,395
H 34.5 in W 63 in D 24 in
Italian Neoclassical Style Carved Mahogany W/ Ram Sideboard Console Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a statement piece! This is a 1940s carved mahogany hunt board with a sculpted top and a single drawer with dovetail construction. It has a ...
Mahogany
Modern Cerused Oak Sideboard Buffet in Natural Wash Finish
Located in North York, ON
Modern Cerused oak sideboard Buffet in natural wash finish. Featuring natural whitewash ceruse finish with contrasting white grains. Doors open with slee...
Oak
$6,846
H 39.18 in W 70.87 in D 17.33 in
René Gabriel - Spirit - Sideboard - Chevron-Parqueted Oak - 1950 - France
By Rene Gabriel
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Elevated on tapered legs with the quiet poise of modernist intention, this buffet possesses a restrained elegance—its form at once aerated and architectural. The three-panel façade i...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Mid-Century Modern French Sideboard
By Jacques Adnet
Located in PARIS, FR
Exquisite Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by French design master Jacques Adnet. This piece is in exceptional condition. The panels, which slide from side to side, are made of opaline g...
Opaline Glass, Wood
Jacques Adnet solid oak sideboard red lacquer 1940
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paris, IDF
Unique solid oak sideboard designed by Jacques Adnet in the 1940s. This piece is an exquisite example of refined and detailed craftsmanship by Jacques Adnet, featuring three doors, w...
Oak
1950's Stitched Leather Sideboard by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Very rare two doors cabinet in pearwood with metal structure and stitched leather ornament Circa 1950's France.
Metal
1950's French Hand-Stitched Leather Sideboard by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and fine black hand-stitched leather by Jacques Adnet. Two doors on each side concealing shelves, suite of three drawers in the center. Solid brass handles. Oak interior. France...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Parchment Sideboard, circa 1930s
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Jacques Adnet parchment covered wood cabinet with patinated metal pulls and hardware. Jacques Adnet (1900-1984) was a furniture designer known for his...
Metal