A prolific talent, Jean Dunand was one of the most extraordinary and emblematic designers of the early 20th century. He produced well over a thousand Art Deco works in an almost dizzying array of media. He is best remembered for his exquisite creations in lacquer and metal, but he also worked as a sculptor, mosaicist, portraitist and goldsmith. The Swiss-born Parisian designer imagined jewelry, tapestries, fabrics for haute couture and, during World War I, even a helmet for soldiers with an adjustable visor.
Dunand’s clients included fashion designers Jeanne Lanvin, Madeleine Vionnet and Elsa Schiaparelli, as well as Josephine Baker, who used his vases and screens for her stage sets. She also posed nude for him, and her likeness appears on several lacquer panels. He collaborated with Robert Mallet-Stevens on a boutique for the Swiss leather-goods brand Bally on Paris’s boulevard de la Madeleine, and he lacquered furniture for both Eugène Printz and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.
The two highlights of his professional life, however, were no doubt his participation in the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925 and the decor he imagined for a number of luxury ocean liners, the largest and most prestigious of which was the Normandie, which first set sail in May 1935.
At the 1925 exhibition, from which Art Deco derives its name, Dunand made his mark not only with a series of four monumental hammered-copper vases, decorated with striking geometric patterns in lacquer consisting of squares, triangles, chevrons and undulating lines, but also with the sleek and stylish smoking room he designed for the Pavillon de la Société des Artisans Décorateurs.
Born Jules-John Dunand in 1877 (he Frenchified his first name later) close to Geneva in Switzerland, his first career was as a sculptor. He moved to Paris in 1897 and won a gold medal at the Exposition universelle de 1900 for a bronze proof titled Quo vadis. Five years later, he had turned his attention almost exclusively to the decorative arts. In an ensuing interview, he explained, “The desire to earn a living was partly responsible for my abandoning what is known as ‘fine art.’”
In 1912, Dunand met the Japanese lacquer master Seizo Sugawara, who initiated him into the secrets of the medium’s age-old techniques. It was not until 1921, however, that he presented his first pieces of lacquer furniture. Dunand was not the only Art Deco designer to use the material (Eileen Gray famously did so too), but he employed it much more prolifically and decoratively.
By 1924, he was at the head of a workshop of nearly 60 employees producing objects that ranged from boxes and trays to card tables and screens, many of which bore breathtakingly beautiful motifs consisting of interlocking lines and geometric shapes. By 1927, he had abandoned abstract patterns, favoring instead rich and complex figurative designs, largely featuring animals against stylized backgrounds of leaves and flowers, an aesthetic not far removed from the paintings of Henri Rousseau.
Dunand continued his work relentlessly until his death, in 1942 at the age of 65.
After World War II, Art Deco went completely out of style, and Dunand’s work was largely neglected until the mid-1970s. Since then, it has gained something of a cult following. Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Andy Warhol and Marc Jacobs all had Dunand creations in their collections.
Find vintage Jean Dunand decorative objects, ceramics and other Art Deco works on 1stDibs.
Art Deco Cash Box, France 1930s
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
French steel box from the 1930s. Green lacquered case with golden craquelé pattern. The cash register has a classic handle and a key to lock. Painted green in the interior and a shee...
Metal, Steel, Iron
Decorative leather box, France, 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A French decorative box from the 1960s, crafted from leather, exemplifies the understated elegance and artisanal quality of mid-20th-century decorative objects. Circular in shape, it is distinguished by its lid adorned with an embossed design, featuring an organic and stylized motif that adds texture and depth to the piece. The leather displays a beautiful antique patina, with warm shades of brown and tan, marked by time and use, which enhances its authentic character. The simple and balanced finish underscores the decorative purpose of this piece, which is both discreet and refined. Versatile, this box can serve as a jewelry box, a catch-all, or decorative storage, blending harmoniously into a vintage, mid-century, or classic interior. Key Features: Decorative leather box French production, 1960s Circular shape Embossed decoration on the lid Beautiful patina from use Warm shades of brown Decorative and functional object Indoor use Keywords: vintage French leather box, 1960s decorative box, vintage leather storage, mid-century French decor, antique circular box, vintage trinket dish...
Leather
French Art Deco metal box decorated with Mercury, 1930s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1930 / box / metal / Art Deco / Vintage / Mid-century An Art Deco tin box with the image of Mercury, God of trade and communication, surrounded by detailed decorative elements typical of this artistic movement. This French metal box...
Metal
R&Y Augousti Box
By R & Y Augousti
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Small vintage R&Y Augousti Art Deco style box with inlayed faux bamboo decoration retailers label to the underside Paris France circa 1990 R&Y Augousti was founded in 1989 by husband-wife duo Ria & Yiouri Augousti. Their artistic backgrounds brought them together as innovators in their field by reviving the artisanal techniques of shagreen and other exotic materials that were predominant in the Art Deco period of the 1930s. Through their mix of vintage and contemporary design their furniture and home accessories brand were met with worldwide praise. From a debut collection for the luxurious Hotel Crillon...
Brass
Wooden Box with Geometric Decorations, France, 1940s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Geometric Wooden Box, France, 1940s. This elegant wooden storage box features a striking geometric marquetry design on its lid. The braided pattern, composed of interlaced rectangle...
Wood
Art Deco Carved Wood Box with Metal Accent, France circa 1930
By Decorative Arts Studio
Located in Atlanta, GA
This wood box, expertly crafted in France circa 1930, will make a statement in any room. The box features a unique, eye-catching design, with a beautiful oak wood grain complemented ...
Metal, Chrome
Early 20th Century French Glass Table Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With hand painted details. Brass-mounted. Glass appears to be black. Very heavy. Mint condition.
Brass
Wooden "tobacco" box, France, 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A French wooden box from the 1950s, originally intended for storing tobacco. Rectangular in shape, it is distinguished by its clean, functional lines, typical of mid-20th-century utilitarian objects. The wood has a beautiful antique patina, with warm, deep tones that highlight the natural grain. The decoration is accentuated by a geometric pattern inlaid on the lid and front, adding a subtle graphic touch. Authentic and elegant, this "Tobacco" box is now ideal as a decorative object, storage box, or desk accessory, fitting perfectly into a vintage, mid-century, or classic interior. Key Features: Wooden tobacco...
Wood
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.38 in W 6.88 in D 4.785 in
French Art Deco Cigarette Box or Makeup Pencil Holder by Marius Agogue Loiret
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Deco cigarette box, France, late 1930s. Constructed with fine mahogany and birch woods. Designed by French ebeniste Marius Agogue Loiret. This very decorative box would ...
Birch, Mahogany
Art Deco Carved Iron Box
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Deco Carved Iron Box An Art Deco style iron box, an object that stands out for its refined aesthetics and practical functionality. The piece has a classic circular shape, with a ...
Iron
