René Prou Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass Top Coffee Table circa 1940
By René Prou
Located in CA, CA
René Prou Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass Top Coffee Table circa 1940
1940s French Art Deco Vintage René Prou Furniture
Wrought Iron
While Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and other Art Deco contemporaries like Pierre Chareau have been hailed as masters of 20th-century design, René Prou has undeservedly more or less fallen off the decorative-arts radar.
Prou was born in Nantes on July 14, 1887, and later trained at an industrial-design school, the École Bernard-Palissy in Paris, between 1902 and 1908. He started his career working for the interior design firms Gouffé and Schmit & Cie. At the latter, he was responsible for the decoration of the Paris residence of the ambassador of Paraguay. Prou began designing under his own name after World War I and never stopped.
Among other projects, Prou imagined a women’s boudoir and a girl’s bedroom for the prestigious French Embassy pavilion at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris — widely considered the start of the Art Deco period. Prou created vases for the Manufacture de Sèvres, a fireplace for the living room of the Villa Noailles and a tearoom at the Lido cabaret on the Champs-Elysées.
The designer was prolific. A promotional brochure for Prou’s eponymous design firm stated that he had designed 60 private residences and 30 banks between 1918 and 1930, and his career continued another 17 years after that.
Prou decorated some 500 train compartments — the most prestigious of which were for the Orient Express — and participated in the interior design of nine luxury ocean liners, including the Paris, the Île-de-France and the legendary Normandie. He was also extremely well connected. His friends included the Catalan painter Josep Maria Sert and fellow designer Louis Sognot; he collaborated on projects with Raymond Subes and Ivan da Silva Bruhns; and he went trout fishing in Normandy with Ruhlmann.
Prou was a devoted pedagogue, too, teaching more than 3,000 pupils at the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs over two decades, among them Charlotte Perriand and the postwar modernist designers Pierre Guariche and Alain Richard.
Prou’s output included sparks of innovation. He covered the floors of ocean liners with patchwork carpets made of linoleum, for example, and produced some strikingly modern-looking metal chairs. Yet much of his work was more traditional, regularly incorporating typical Art Deco geometric motifs and luxurious wood paneling. A book published in 2018 on Prou’s life and career has given new, and well-deserved, prominence to the influential designer.
Find vintage René Prou furniture on 1stDibs.
René Prou Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass Top Coffee Table circa 1940
By René Prou
Located in CA, CA
René Prou Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass Top Coffee Table circa 1940
Wrought Iron
$4,382Sale Price / set|20% Off
A rare pair of Rene Prou wrought iron occasional chairs
By René Prou
Located in London, GB
A rare Art Deco pair of hand forged wrought iron occasional chairs designed uniquely by Rene Prou for the exquisite Claridge’s Hotel London . C1930s .
Iron
Pair, Rene Prou French 2 Lights Wrought Iron & Brass Wall Sconces Black Finish
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Art Deco pair of wrought iron 2 light sconces, wall lamps in black satin finish. Made in France circa 1950. US Rewiring and each Sconces takes 2 candelabra Light Bulbs with max. 40...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Set of 6 Rene Prou wrought iron Dining Room Chairs
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 6 Rene Prou wrought iron high back chair . Heavy and sturdy.
Wrought Iron
Rene Prou Silver Leaf Iron Scroll Coffee Table
By René Prou
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This coffee table is an interesting piece and could be a good addition to any home or collection. It has a unique design, very ornate and intricate scrollwork, as well as a replaced ...
Iron, Silver Leaf
$5,000 / set
A pair of Rene Prou Wrought iron side table
By René Prou
Located in London, GB
A rare pair of Rene Prou Wrought iron side table
Wrought Iron
1940's Gilt wrought iron stools by René Prou
By René Prou
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1940's pair of gilt wrought iron stools by René Prou France
Wrought Iron
$704Sale Price|20% Off
Rene Prou drawing for the Paquebot France salon
By René Prou
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Rene Prou drawing for the Paquebot France salon little damage on the paper at left see photo
Paper
René Prou Iconic Black Iron & Glass French Side, End Table Mid-Century Modern
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Iconic 1930 Jean Prouvé Black Wrought Iron and Glass Side, End or Sofa Table made in France in 1930. Comes with the original 0.63 inches thick Glass Top....
Wrought Iron
Set of 6 Art Deco Chairs & 2 Armchairs by René Prou, France, 1950
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 6 Chairs and 2 Armchairs by Rene Prou
Wrought Iron
Rene Prou Low Bronze Table
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Forties Art Deco low table by Rene Prou in bronze with original white glass top. Measures: 32” wide x 18” deep x 18” high. René Prou (1889-1948) A decorator as well as furniture designer, Rene Prou was born in Nantes and educated in Paris. He studied at the Ecole Bernard-Palissy in Paris and shortly thereafter joined the design house, Gouffé. By 1912 he had become their chief designer and was being called the first decorator of the modern taste (gout moderne). His varied design career included: 1922 oceanliner Paris 1922 – Paris to Deauville train (aka Train Bleu) 1923 – showed at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs 1924 oceanliner de Grasse 1925 – with Eric Bagge...
Bronze
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Jean Rene Prou Neo classic armchairs drawing
By René Prou
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Jean Rene Prou drawing of armchair pair
Paper
Set of Six Rene Prou Art Deco Wrought Iron Dining Room Chairs Blue Fabric Seats
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Superb set of Six Art Deco Wrought Iron Dining Chairs by Rene Prou in the 1940s Style. Seat is covered in a Royal Blue Fabric. Measures: Seat Height: 17 inches.
Wrought Iron
$13,800
Rene Prou two-tiered table
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Forties Art Deco two-tiered table by Rene Prou, 1949, in gilt forged iron with glass insets. This model is pictured in Maison Francaise, November 1949. Please see photos. 28.5...
Iron
$15,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 14 René Prou Art Deco Gold Wrought Iron Dining Room Chairs Blue Fabric
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Superb set of Fourteenth Art Deco wrought iron dining chairs by René Prou in the 1940s style. The set consisting out of 12 side chairs and 2 arm chairs in gold powder-coated wrought...
Wrought Iron
Art Déco Sideboard by René Prou, Sycamore & Brass, France, Circa 1937
By René Prou
Located in Köln, NW
Elegant rare Art Déco Sideboard by René Prou. France late thirties, early 1940s. Typical Design language of René Prou. In the middle part there are drawers for cutlery. The large Sid...
Brass
$18,500
Rene Prou Table in Rosewood
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco low side/coffee table, circa 1935 by Rene Prou, in rosewood. Measures: 32" diameter x 21" high. RENE PROU (1889-1948) A decorator as well as furniture designer, Rene Prou was born in Nantes and educated in Paris. He studied at the Ecole Bernard-Palissy in Paris and shortly thereafter joined the design house, Gouffé. By 1912 he had become their chief designer and was being called the first decorator of the modern taste (gout moderne). Prou's varied career included: 1922 oceanliner Paris 1922 – Paris to Deauville train (aka Train Bleu) 1923 – showed at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs 1924 oceanliner de Grasse 1925 – with Eric Bagge...
Rosewood
Rene Prou Pair of Open-Sided Armchairs
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco pair of armchairs in stained beech by Rene Prou, circa 1935. Restored and newly upholstered. Measures: 21.5" wide x 26" deep x 32" high.
Beech
$12,500 / set
Rene Prou Armchairs in Walnut, 2 Pairs
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Two pairs of French modernist Art Deco armchairs/pull-up chairs by Rene Prou, circa 1930 in French walnut. Model exhibited at 1929 Salon d’Automne and pictured in the book, Rene Prou...
Walnut
French Mid-Century Modern Round Gilt Iron Coffee Table by Rene Prou, 1940
By René Prou
Located in New York, NY
An elegant and timeless round French Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical cocktail table by Rene Prou with stunning, delicately hand-hammered tapering legs. The legs and frame are delicat...
René Prou, 2 Art Deco Stools in Lacquered Wood and Blue Velvet, circa 1940-1950
By René Prou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Prou, 2 Art Deco stools in lacquered wood and blue velvet, circa 1940-1950. price is for one two are available
Velvet, Wood
Rene Prou Gilt Iron Coffee Table
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco coffee table in gilt hand forged iron, by Rene Prou, circa 1930. 44” long x 26” wide x 23” high with glass. Frame: 41.5” long x 21” wide. Rene Prou (1889-1948) A decorator as well as furniture designer, Rene Prou was born in Nantes and educated in Paris. He studied at the Ecole Bernard-Palissy in Paris and shortly thereafter joined the design house, Gouffé. By 1912 he had become their chief designer and was being called the first decorator of the modern taste (gout moderne). Prou’s varied design career included: 1922 oceanliner Paris 1922 – Paris to Deauville train (aka Train Bleu) 1923 – showed at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs 1924 oceanliner de Grasse 1925 – with Eric Bagge...
Iron
Rene Prou – Mahogany Corner Wash Closet From Orient Express -Circa 1927
By René Prou
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Introducing a truly extraordinary piece of furniture, the Rene Prou lacquered and marquetry inlaid mahogany corner wash closet from the Orient Express. This exceptional creation, dat...
Rosewood, Mahogany
1940's table lamp by René Prou
By René Prou
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1940's wrought iron table lamp designed by René Prou Circa 1940's
Metal
$13,500
Rene Prou single club chair
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Deco single club chair by Rene Prou, circa 1937, in sycamore. 28” wide x 32” deep x 34” high. Unrestored in the photos. RENE PROU (1889-1948) A decorator as well as fur...
Sycamore
$21,000 / set
Rene Prou Fine Set of Six Dining Chairs
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French 1940s Art Deco dining chairs, set of six by Rene Prou, in stained beech. These chairs could be ebonized. Please note these chairs are unrestored in the photographs. **PRICE includes proper restoration, refinishing and reupholstering with buyer supplied fabric. RENE PROU (1889-1948) A decorator as well as furniture designer, Rene Prou was born in Nantes and educated in Paris. He studied at the Ecole Bernard-Palissy in Paris and shortly thereafter joined the design house, Gouffé. By 1912 he had become their chief designer and was being called the first decorator of the modern taste (gout moderne). His varied design career included: 1922 oceanliner Paris 1922 – Paris to Deauville train (aka Train Bleu) 1923 – showed at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs 1924 oceanliner de Grasse 1925 – with Eric...
Beech
$15,000 / set
René Prou Set of Six Dining Chairs in Beech
By René Prou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French 1940s Art Deco dining chairs, set of six, in beech. Please note that these chairs are unrestored in the photographs.
Beech
René Prou, Art Deco Desk in Lacquered Wood, circa 1940-1950
By René Prou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Prou, Art Deco desk in lacquered wood, circa 1940-1950 patina to review.
Velvet, Wood
$10,000 / set
Pair of 1930s René Prou Slipper Chairs
By René Prou
Located in New York, NY
These earthbound chairs appear to be weightless. Such is the illusion that the designer René Prou was able to create in 1930s Paris with the aid of a highly-skilled upholsterer. Befo...
Silk, Sycamore
1950 Sycamore chest of drawers by René Prou
By René Prou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sycamore chest of drawers from 1950 by René Prou Attractive sycamore chest of drawers by René Prou dating from the early 1950s. This chest of drawers is very decorative and typical o...
Wood
Pair of French Gilt Metal Scroll Side Chairs
By René Prou
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French 1940s gilt metal side chairs with scroll design and upholstered with an inset diamond shaped back panel and seat in off white fabric (att: RENE PROU)
Fabric
$5,900Sale Price / set|40% Off
Rene Prou Art Deco Golden Wrought Iron Dining Room Chairs Black Vinyl Seats, 6
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
Superb set of six Art Deco wrought iron dining chairs golden powder coated finish by rene prou in the 1940s style. The set contains 4 highbacked chairs...
Wrought Iron
Art Deco Pair of Lounge Chairs by René Prou
By René Prou
Located in Miami, FL
This pair of Art Deco armchairs by René Prou represents the designer’s refined, curvilinear aesthetic and elegant sense of proportion, paired here with dramatic black lacquered wood ...
Rosewood
René Prou, Two Art Deco Armchairs in Lacquered Wood and Blue Velvet
By René Prou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Prou, two Art Deco armchairs in lacquered wood and blue velvet, circa 1940-1950.
Velvet, Wood
René Prou, Art Deco Chair in Lacquered Wood and Blue Velvet, circa 1940-1950
By René Prou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Prou, Art Deco chair in lacquered wood and blue velvet, circa 1940-1950.
Velvet, Wood