Joseph-André Motte Sideboards

Joseph-André Motte, signed. Sideboard in blond ash, opening on the front with three side doors, rectangular in shape with a central shelf in each part, resting on a black lacquere...

Rare and supremely elegant, ash and mahogany wood, credenza bar designed by Joseph Andre Motte in 1954 for 'Group 4, Charron,' France; complete with the extremely rare original decorative brass key for the lockable bar compartment. The surrounding perimeter frame including the top and the legs are made of Ash wood while the door and drawer fronts are made of mahogany wood. The original brass hardware; hinges, lock, key etc are all present. A rare and beautiful Minimalist, pared down, design with an organic and timeless Japanese 'zen' aesthetic featuring delicate and sympathetic detailing such as the recessed circular finger pulls to the doors allowing the vertical plane of the doors to continue uninterrupted and the simple, lightweight yet strong, sculptural form bentwood supporting legs. The credenza features two sliding doors ; the left hand door conceals two shelves and the right hand door conceals a single shelf; complete as per the original design allowing for the storage of items of varying height. There is a further drop down flap door to the upper right which conceals a lockable bar compartment, complete with original brass key, which features a cut away shelf for the storage of glasses , a very nice detail which also allows for the storage of full height bottles. There are a further two drawers to the bottom right. Motte was one of a group of young designers who emerged immediately following the post WW2 reconstruction period , dedicated to designing elegant and accessible furniture in a resolutely modern spirit, stripped of decoration and produced in series. George Charron, a French furniture manufacturer, discovered Rene Jean Caillette’s work in 1950 and their meeting led to the creation of Group 4, a collaboration between Caillette,Joseph André Motte, Alain Richard and Genevieve Dangles. Literature: 'MEUBLES ET DECORS' number 691 , March 1956, PLEASE SEE IMAGE 3. 'MEUBLES ET DECORS', issue number June-July 1955, page 10. 'MOBLIER ET DECORATION', issue number 3 , 1956, page 24. 'MEUBLES ET DECORS' number 686, October 1955. Exhibitions featuring this design: 'Joseph Andre MOTTE - The Art of Living' - 8.11.2012 - 2.9.2013 , GALLERY DEMISCH DANANT...