French Art Deco Armchairs by Andre Sornay, Set of Four
View Similar Items
French Art Deco Armchairs by Andre Sornay, Set of Four
About the Item
- Creator:Andre Sornay (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 37 in (93.98 cm)Width: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Depth: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Seat Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1930s
- Condition:light wear to 2 seats.
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU197436541933
Andre Sornay
Although he is among the least known of the like-minded French Art Deco furniture designers of his era, André Sornay introduced innovative fabrication techniques and a unique decorative style to his modernist seating, case pieces and other creations.
Sornay was born in Lyon in 1902, and graduated from École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 1918. His career as a furniture designer began in 1919 when he was appointed head of his family’s furniture company after his father’s death.
In the early 1920s — inspired by the Bauhaus and De Stijl as well as his friends and fellow French avant-garde designers Francis Jourdain and Pierre Chareau — Sornay shifted the company’s focus from manufacturing period reproductions to creating contemporary designs.
Sornay’s work fused tradition with modernism. He preferred to work with metals, exotic woods such as mahogany and rosewood, rubber and Duco lacquer for a range of cabinets, desks, chairs and mirrors. Sornay’s pieces featured sleek brass drawer pulls and sharply geometric lines, and the distinctive mode that he worked in was known throughout Lyon as “Le Style Sornay.”
Sornay was also recognized for his inventive design methods that were not only decorative but functional. In 1932, he patented the cloudage technique — studding the perimeter of veneered furniture panels with uniform brass nails. Sornay integrated this technique into his wardrobes, side tables and the armchairs he designed, which were frequently defined by clean lines and sharp angles. In the early 1950s, he also patented a technique called the “Tigette,” which allowed for quick and easy assembly or disassembly of modular furniture — a forerunner to IKEA’s flat-packed furniture.
While Sornay isn’t as well known as other European modernists like Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, he attracted modest attention at exhibitions of the day, such as the 1923 Salon d’Automne and the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the design fair that brought the Art Deco style to the world. He was awarded the bronze medal at Paris’s Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in 1937.
In the late 1950s, Sornay ceded control of his furniture design company to his children, remaining as an advisor until production ceased in 1999. He died the following year.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage André Sornay case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and tables.
- Medea Hand-Carved Art Nouveau Style Armchairs, PairBy MedeaLocated in Miami, FLMedea Hand-Carved Art Nouveau Style Armchairs, Pair Offered for sale is a pair of hand-carved high-back armchairs created in the Art Nouveau style from Medea. The chairs are gracefu...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
$5,030 Sale Price / set29% Off - 19th Century French Giltwood Fauteuil Armchairs, PairLocated in Miami, FL19th century French giltwood fauteuil armchairs, pair Offered for sale is a pair of late 19th century Louis XVI French giltwood fauteuil armchairs shown in muslin and in need of uph...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
MaterialsWood
$950 Sale Price / set40% Off - French Louis XVI Style Painted Fauteuil Armchairs, Late 19th Century -Early 20thLocated in Miami, FLFrench Louis XVI Style Painted Fauteuil Armchairs, Late 19th Century -Early 20th Offered for sale is a pair of French Louis XVI style painted fauteuil armchairs. The chairs are eith...Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Louis XVI Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Angelo Cappellini Chippendale Style Armchairs, pairBy Angelo CappelliniLocated in Miami, FLAngelo Cappellini Chippendale Style Armchairs, pair Offered for sale is an elegant pair of Chippendale style armchairs with hand-carved legs by Angelo Cappellini. The manufacturer e...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
$3,900 Sale Price / set28% Off - Hollywood Regency Neoclassical Style High Back ArmchairsLocated in Miami, FLHollywood Regency neoclassical style high back armchairs Offered for sale is an elegant pair of Hollywood Regency high back armchairs that have been created in the Neoclassical style. The frames are nicely carved with Neoclassical details in wood that has been painted. The pair is beautifully upholstered and includes loose seat cushions with tassel...Category
20th Century Hollywood Regency Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Le Jeune Upholstery Jasmine Armchair Showroom ModelBy Iconic Design GalleryLocated in Miami, FLLe Jeune Upholstery Jasmine Armchair Showroom Model Offered for sale is a Le Jeune Upholstery Jasmine C21.923 Chair showroom model. The chair has ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Hardwood, Maple
- Armchair by André SornayBy Andre SornayLocated in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire1950s armchair by French designer André Sornay. Timber frame with upholstered drop in seat and drop in back cushion. Good vintage condition for this rare sought after armchair. Andr...Category
Mid-20th Century French Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
$4,471 - Pair of Signed Art Deco Armchairs and Ottoman by André Sornay, circa 1925By Andre SornayLocated in Beverly Hills, CAFrench designer André Sornay’s subtle decorative finesse is echoed in this Pair of Armchairs and Ottoman, featuring walnut wood and distinctive chartreuse velvet upholstery. Sornay's...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Armchairs
MaterialsSilk, Velvet, Walnut
- Pine Andre Sornay armchair, France, 1950'sBy Andre SornayLocated in Austin, TXPine armchair by Andre Sornay, French designer known for his sublime simplicity. France, 1950's.Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPine
- Pair of Andre Sornay Armchairs, circa 1960, FranceBy Andre SornayLocated in Girona, SpainPair of Andre Sornay armchairs. This armchair will warm up your interior with the color of its wood, a perfect piece for a chalet-type interior...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPine
- Set of 2 Andre Sornay armchairs mahogany and velvet 1960By Andre SornayLocated in JASSANS-RIOTTIER, FRPair of armchairs by Andre Sornay in the sixties Structure in mahogany with cushions in foam covered by velvet fabric Tigette system some traces of time on the structure Fabric is newCategory
Mid-20th Century French Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Mahogany
- Set of 2 Low chairs by Andre Sornay, 1960By Andre SornayLocated in JASSANS-RIOTTIER, FRSet of 2 low chairs designed by French cabinetmaker: Andre Sornay during the 60s in France Structure with four feet in mahogany completed with white laminate panels (back)- connected...Category
Mid-20th Century French Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Foam, Mahogany
$2,858 / set