Süe & Mare rosewood and amboyna burl desk 1921

This walnut, rosewood, and amboyna burl veneer desk dates from the early 1920s and was created by Louis Süe and André Mare. It takes us straight to the height of the Art Deco period. Its elegant curves, its top highlighted by a twisted wooden rush, its legs with tapered sheathed legs ending in small volutes, and its three brass handles contrasting perfectly with the amboyna burr, make it a work of rare finesse, characteristic of the work of Louis Süe and André Mare. This desk was made for one of the shops of the famous Linzeler family, known for their century-long involvement in jewelry and silversmithing. It has been fully restored, polished with traditional shellac varnish, and is in superb condition. It is stamped with the mark of La Compagnie des Arts Français.

Literature: Florence Camard, Süe & Mare et la Compagnie des Arts Français, Les éditions de l'amateur, Paris, 1993, similar model referenced under the number 238, page 279.

The two French designers met at the Académie Julian Louis Süe. Though their backgrounds, tastes, and ideas were different, painter André Mare (1885-1932) and architect Louis Süe (1875-1968) collaborated on many creations. Breaking away from Art Nouveau, their goal was to perfectly combine aesthetics and functionality. After founding the Ateliers Français in 1912, they went further in their quest for innovation, elegance, and refinement, establishing the Compagnie des Arts Français in 1919. This was a groundbreaking revolution in the world of furniture and decoration at the time. Many painters, including Dunoyer de Segonzac and Véra, joined this institution, which made a strong impact at the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts. André Mare and Louis Süe also designed the pavilion for the Museum of Contemporary Art.