Jacques Adnet pair of modernist club chairs rosewood 1931

Very beautiful pair of club armchairs designed by Jacques Adnet in 1931. This model perfectly embodies the designer’s modernist period, where the precision of the volumes interacts with a high degree of decorative restraint. The barrel-shaped backrest envelops the seat and extends into rectilinear armrests, forming a compact and perfectly balanced composition.The structure rests on a rosewood veneer base with a straight section, visually anchoring the seat and emphasizing the minimalism of the design. It continues into four square-section legs, rectilinear at the front and slightly projected at the back, a distinctive feature of the model. Clean curves, controlled proportions, and the absence of unnecessary ornamentation reflect Adnet’s commitment to functional elegance, in which quality of execution is essential.This pair is in excellent condition, fully restored and newly upholstered in a very soft cotton and linen fabric by Pierre Frey.

Literature : Meubles meublants, presented by Maurice Dufrène, Edition chez Eug. Moreau, 1931, Planche 1.

Jacques Adnet (1900–1984) was a French designer and interior architect known for his elegant, modernist style. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and from an early age was interested in Art Deco modernism, a movement that rejected the excessive ornamentation of Art Nouveau and advocated simple, functional lines. In the 1920s, he founded a company with his twin brother, Jean Adnet, where they created furniture using simple geometric shapes and high-quality materials. In 1928, he was appointed director of the Compagnie des Arts Français (CAF), and helped the institution adopt a contemporary approach. His designs combined industrial materials, such as glass and metal, with simple, clean lines. In the 1950s, by collaborating with the luxury house Hermès, he reaffirmed his status as a pioneer of refined 20th-century French design.